June 13, 2010

Super Regional Scores, Schedules & Capsules

CBI Live
Seminoles squeak past Commodores for CWS berth

By Jimmy Jones

Special to CollegeBaseballInsider.com

(photos by Jimmy Jones)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--What should have been the most important day in Vanderbilt baseball history turned out to be a career-defining moment for Florida State third baseman Sherman Johnson as he drove in four runs, three in the fateful eighth inning with a double off the wall and the bases juiced with teammates.
 
Florida State, playing in its 10th Super Regional (3-6) trailed only Texas for the most victories by any school in Regional/Super Regional action and will now be tied for that distinction as they head to Omaha with a 7-6 win over a relentless Commodore baseball team that battled to the final out with three runs in the ninth and the tying run on base before closer Mike McGee struck out Joe Loftus for the final out.
 
FSU led from start to finish with four second-inning runs but were unable to add to the advantage until Johnson's dramatic hit in the eighth.
 

"I am very appreciative of the class that Vanderbilt University showed; that is an outstanding baseball team that really showed resolve, character all weekend," said FSU head coach Mike Martin. "It's very commendable and I can see why everybody is so please with Tim Corbin and the job he has done at Vanderbilt."
 
Trailing 7-2, the Commodores got things started as pinch hitter Riley Reynolds drew a leadoff walk. Brian Harris then gave VU what he has given them his whole career as he battled to a 3-2 count and then sent a rope into right field with a single in the last at bat as a Commodore.
 
McGee (right) registered the first out of the ninth getting Anthony Gomez to strike out swinging. Aaron Westlake stepped in and closed the gap to 7-4 as he registered an RBI double just inside the line in right.
 
McGee got Jason Esposito swinging on three pitches for out number two.
 
Designated hitter Curt Casali brought the Commodores within one of the lead as he drove in Harris and Westlake on a two-out single to right. But McGee would keep the lead in tact as he got Loftus swinging on strikes to end the game.
 
“To these men up here,” Martin said, “you've got one guy (Sean GilMartin) that came here from California wanting this opportunity; the guy beside him Tyler Holt, had been once and suffered disappointment last year and was a huge leader on our team. What do you say about Michael (McGee) and the job he's done and we kind of extended him today and he got out there and got it done. Then to see these two young men (Sherman Johnson and Jayce Boyd - one didn't even play much last year (Johnson) I think he pinch ran in one of the Super Regional games that we played yet he came up today with one of the biggest hits of the year when you are clinging to a one run lead and you are extending your closer longer than you have and Boyd who hit the ball hard all day long and has really played a great first base. These young men - some will be future leaders and some are leaders already."

"It was a great weekend for all of us," added Martin.

With the loss, VU bids a fond farewell to seniors Drew Hayes, Andrew Giobbi, and Brian Harris.