The bullpen comes up big to keep FSU’s season alive
The Florida State Seminoles entered tonight’s game in a do-or-die situation. After last night’s ninth inning bullpen meltdown, FSU placed their hopes in their ace Jamie Arnold. The Oregon State Beavers did not make it easy for Arnold, working his pitch count up to 50 through the first two innings but Arnold settled down and allowed just one run over 6.2 innings. The offense struggled but scratched out three runs and the bullpen pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to secure the win and force a winner takes all game three.
The Florida State Seminoles were the home team on the scoreboard as they began their must win matchup with Oregon State. FSU’s Jamie Arnold started the first with a strikeout before allowing a single up the middle. Arnold fanned the next batter before catcher Jaxson West and Arnold failed to prevent the runner from taking second on a steal. Oregon State took advantage of the opportunity and connected on an RBI single to left field. Arnold struggled to land his off speed arsenal and walked the next Beaver. With OSU once again threatening, Arnold was able to escape with a flyout to right field. On the FSU side of the inning, Gage Harrelson grounded out sharply to third base before both Alex Lodise and Max William struck out.
In the second, Arnold again started the inning with a strikeout before allowing a single. OSU followed that up with another single before Arnold’s fourth strikeout. The Beavers continued to force Arnold to throw strikes but he once again was able to escape a threat with a groundout to second. In the bottom of the frame, Myles Bailey struck out on a check swing before Cal Fisher grounded out to second. Drew Faurot connected on a double to the gap in right to pick up FSU’s first hit but Brody DeLamielleur struck out to end the inning.
Going into the third, Arnold had already reached 50 pitches and needed an efficient inning. It started out rough as Arnold hit the first batter but he responded with a flyout and two quick groundouts to keep his pitch count at just 62. West led off the bottom of the inning by reaching via an error. FSU continued to struggle to figure out Oregon State’s Ethan Kleinschmit as he struck out Chase Williams and Gage Harrelson for his fifth and sixth strikeout of the night. The ‘Noles again looked poised to waste another inning but Lodise battled for a two out walk before Max Williams once again delivered with an RBI single to left to tie the game. Bailey grounded out to end the inning with the game notched at one.
Arnold attacked the zone more in the fourth and it paid off as the future first rounder needed just 11 pitches to sit down the Beavers. OSU went 1-2-3 with Arnold picking up his fifth strikeout. Oregon State’s Kleinschmit mowed down FSU in the bottom of the fourth by striking out the side of Fisher, Faurot, and DeLamielleur, Arnold continued rolling in the top of the fifth as he sat down the Beavers in order. A leadoff strikeout followed by two flyouts inched Arnold up to 87 pitches. West and Chase Williams both grounded out to start the bottom of the fifth before Harrelson worked a walk. Lodise could do nothing with the baserunner as he also hit into an inning ending fielder’s choice groundout.
OSU led off the sixth with a single before a nasty slider from Arnold picked up the first out via K. The lefty then induced two back-to-back flyouts to end the inning and keep his pitch count under 100 (98). In their half of the inning, FSU continued to scuffle at the plate as Max Williams watched strike three before Bailey grounded out and Fisher swung through FSU’s eleventh strikeout of the game. Arnold started off the seventh with a strikeout followed by a single to left field. Pitching coach Micah Posey visited Arnold and decided to leave the lefty in and it paid off as he was able to pick up his ninth strikeout of the game on pitch number 113. The Seminoles then turned to Maison Martinez to record the final out of the seventh, which he did with a strikeout. Arnold’s final line: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K.
Faurot was able work a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the seventh. The free pass ended OSU’s Kleinschmit’s night. He departed with 11 punch outs under his belt. James Hankerson pinched hit and reached via fielder’s choice. The play resulted in Faurot being out at second. West then connected for FSU’s third hit of the game, a single to left center. Chase Williams nearly broke the game open on a dying liner to right center but OSU’s centerfielder was able to track it down for the second out. Next, Harrelson battled into a 3-2 count before giving FSU a 2-1 lead with an RBI single to left center. Lodise struck out to end the inning with runners on the corners.
Martinez issued a walk to start the eighth and Posey quickly went to the bullpen handing the ball to Peyton Prescott. The righty came out amped, reaching 100 MPH on the radar gun. He punched out the first batter he faced before ending the inning with a 4-6-3 double play groundout. Max Williams smoked a leadoff single up the middle to start the bottom of eighth. Bailey struck out next before Fisher advanced a running Williams to third on a single to left. With runners on the corners, Faurot struck out before Hankerson reached with a walk to load the bases. West then battled into a full count and was able to lay off to pick up the RBI walk to make the game 3-1. Chase Williams grounded out to second to send the game to the ninth with FSU clinging to the lead.
Prescott remained on the mound for the ninth and allowed the first Beaver to reach via a walk. With last night still fresh in everyone’s mind Prescott responded with three straight punchouts to secure the win and force a game three.