Offensive juggernaut FSU regroups after crushing loss for CWS elimination game with Virginia

In the minutes following the loss, the Seminoles turned their attention to Sunday afternoon. Coach Link Jarrett essentially confirmed lefty Carson Dorsey will get the nod in the loser-goes-home clash with Virginia.

OMAHA, Neb. — Dealt with the heartache of letting an upset slip away in the ninth inning on Friday night, Florida State coach Link Jarrett swore his team would respond again.

They’ll have to.

Otherwise the Seminoles’ season will end winless at Charles Schwab Field.

Seminoles’ start in CWS thwarted by Vols’ big late comeback

No. 8 seed FSU held a five-run lead in the eighth against top-ranked Tennessee throughout a five-error, big-bat contest where teams combined to leave 21 on base. The Volunteers rallied with four consecutive two-out hits in the bottom of the ninth to walk-off a 12-11 win in the opening round of the 2024 College World Series.

“I’m proud that you got to see flashes of what this team can do and is about,” Jarrett said afterwards. “But ultimately that pendulum swung the other way in a hurry in the ninth inning.”

In the minutes following the loss, the Seminoles turned their attention to Sunday afternoon. Jarrett essentially confirmed lefty Carson Dorsey will get the nod in the loser-goes-home clash with Virginia (ESPN, 2 p.m.).

Offensively, the Seminoles plan to attack a familiar ACC foe the same way they jumped onto No. 1 team in the country for 13 hits, nine walks and a hit batsman.

“With leaders like Cam [Smith] and [James] Tibbs, they teach you throughout the course that every [at-bat] matters,” Marco Dinges said, “especially coach Jarrett preaches it every game.”

Dinges tallied a team-high three hits off Tennessee while Smith and Tibbs each had one. Jamie Ferrer led the Seminoles with four RBI, including the first home run of this year’s CWS.

While Friday ended in heartache, the lineup recognized it’s playing wellenough to keep them in any game.

“You have to get all 27 outs and you got to fight until the last pitch of the game,” Ferrer said. “So kind of staying with that, knowing that, that our offense keeps us in every single ball game, is a good feeling.”