After suffering a heartbreaking defeat in its College World Series opener Friday, Florida State baseball (47-16) meets fellow ACC member Virginia (46-16) in an elimination game Sunday.
First pitch is 2 p.m. at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, on ESPN.
The two teams have met once this season, with the Seminoles beating the Cavaliers 12-7 in the ACC Tournament in an elimination game.
Expected starters are right hander Jay Woolfolk (4-1, 5.95 ERA) for Virginia and left hander Carson Dorsey (7-4, 4.67 ERA) for FSU.
Both teams suffered walk-off defeats in Friday's openers.
No. 1 Tennessee rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat FSU 12-11, while No. 4 North Carolina beat Virginia 3-2 on Vance Honeycutt’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
Virginia and Florida State will meet for the first time in NCAA postseason action. Neither the Cavaliers or the Seminoles have a win in the CWS against an ACC school while members of the league.
FSU has reached the CWS for the first time since 2019 under legendary coach Mike Martin and for the first time under second-year coach Link Jarrett.
Overall, FSU is making its 24th appearance in the CWS and searching for its first national title.
Florida State swept the Tallahassee Regional and Super Regional and is 5-1 in the postseason.Virginia also swept the Charlottesville Regional and Super Regional and is 5-1 in the postseason.
Virginia, Tennessee and Stanford are the only three schools to play in three of the last four CWS.
The Cavs lost back-to-back games once this season, the first two games of an ACC series at Miami.
Virginia won the national title in 2015.
More:Carol Martin appreciates Link Jarrett's respect for legendary FSU baseball coach Mike Martin
Florida State baseball live score updates vs Virginia in College World Series
Florida State baseball advances in College World Series with win over Virginia
No. 8 FSU avoided an early exit from the College World Series Sunday with its 7-3 win over Virginia.
Carson Dorsey pitched into the eighth inning and Jaime Ferrer belted two home runs and knocked in four runs in the losers' bracket showdown.
"We are still competing," Ferrer said in a postgame interview with ESPN.
The Seminoles never trailed in the game, leading 2-0 after four innings and extending their advantage to 6-0 in the fifth.
FSU will play Tuesday at 2 p.m. against the loser from Sunday night’s game between No. 1 Tennessee and No. 4 North Carolina.
The Seminoles lost to UT 12-11 in their CWS opener Friday. They have not faced UNC this season.
Virginia out-hit FSU 10-7.
But it couldn't overcome the arm of Dorsey, who improved to 8-4, and the power of Ferrer and was the first team eliminated from the eight-team, double-elimination tourney.
FSU starting pitcher Carson Dorsey delivers for Seminoles vs Virginia
After throwing six scoreless innings, Virginia finally nicked FSU starting pitcher Carson Dorsey for two runs in the top of the seventh inning.
That cut the Seminoles’ lead to 7-2.
Dorsey, the junior lefty from Panama City Beach, returned in the eighth inning.
However, Dorsey was lifted after surrendering a lead-off single to Jacob Ference.
He was replaced on the bump by reliever Brennen Oxford, making his 31st appearance.
Dorsey scattered nine hits and allowed two runs. He has walked only two with seven strikeouts.
Dorsey threw 106 pitches, 68 strikes. His velocity remained in the low 90s heading into the eighth inning.
Oxford, who took the loss in FSU's CWS opener vs. LSU, retired the first two Virginia hitters he faced on a strikeout and ground out.
However, he allowed a run-scoring double before he ended the frame with a shallow fly out.
Even though Virginia has out-hit FSU 10-7, the Seminoles held a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.
FSU baseball relies on long ball as it builds big lead over Virginia in College World Series
FSU's lineup is showing off its prowess against Virginia.
Jaime Ferrer has belted two home runs and knocked in four runs and Alex Lodise led off the sixth inning with a solo home run to left field to extend FSU's lead to 7-0.
Ferrer is the first player to have four RBI in consecutive CWS games since 1998.
Leading 2-0 in the fifth, the Seminoles erupted with four runs with two outs, punctuated by Ferrer's three-run home run.
After Cam Smith doubled, the Cavs decided to intentionally walk James Tibbs III.
Bad decision.
Marco Dinges followed with a run-scoring single and Ferrer followed with a home run to left field to make it 6-0.
FSU has scored seven runs on seven hits, three for extra bases.
Seminoles starter Carson Dorsey has been just as effective, throwing six scoreless innings and scattering six hits. He has struck out four with two walks.
Dorsey has thrown 81 pitches, 51 strikes.
FSU's Jamie Ferrer goes yard, Seminoles lead Cavs 2-0; Virginia starter leaves with injury
Jaime Ferrer opened the fourth inning with a solo home run to left field to extend FSU’s advantage to 2-0.
Ferrer slammed Jay Woolfolk’s first pitch of the inning, a hanging curve ball, into the left-field stands for his second home run in consecutive games.
Woolfolk also appeared to suffer a lower leg injury on the pitch.
The right hander grabbed his right knee on his follow through and grimaced.
He noticeably limped as he walked around the mound. Cavs coach Brian O’Connor and members of the training staff attended him.
Woolfolk, who still favored his right leg, threw a practice pitch and retired Daniel Cantu on a fly out to center.
However, after walking Alex Lodise on four consecutive pitches, Woolfolk was lifted for Joe Savino.
Savino ended the inning on a double play.
ESPN reported that Woolfolk's injury was meniscus- and football-related. He played quarterback for the Cavs for two years before he dropped the sport to concentrate on baseball this season.
FSU baseball strikes first in elimination game vs Virginia at College World Series
James Tibbs III’s walked with the bases loaded and two outs to give FSU an 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.
Virginia starter Jay Woolfolk had sailed through the first two innings. However, he ran into trouble in the third.
With one out, Drew Faurot singled.
After Jaxon West popped out in foul territory for the second out, Max Williams singled, Cam Smith walked on a 3-2 count to load the bases and Tibbs walked on a full count.
Woolfolk limited the damage by coaxing a ground ball force out at second base from Marco Dinges for the third out.
The Cavs have also turned in two impressive catches in the outfield.
Centerfielder Harrison Didawick robbed Daniel Cantu of a solo home run in the second inning with a high leap, while leftfielder Anthony Stephan made running grab going back to the fence in the third off the bat of Alex Lodise.
Florida State starting pitcher Carson Dorsey opens with two scoreless innings
Carson Dorsey is off to a nice start on the mound for Florida State.
The junior lefty from Panama City Beach has opened the Seminoles’ elimination game against Virginia Sunday with two scoreless innings.
Dorsey has scattered three hits, including a one-out double by Harrison Didawick in the top of the second.
Dorsey, however, wiggled out of potential trouble with a pop-out and ground out.
Dorsey also picked off a base runner in the first inning. It was his team-best seventh pickoff this season.
Dorsey has thrown 20 pitches, 13 strikes.
What is the weather forecast for Sunday's CWS game between Florida State baseball and Virginia?
From WOWT in Omaha, Nebraska:
Saturday’s storms moved away from the area overnight, leaving mild yet muggy conditions for Sunday morning. Temperatures are starting off in the low and mid-70s with a pretty stiff south breeze. Temperatures will quickly warm into the mid-80s by the lunch hour, with afternoon highs in the low to mid-90s for most of the area. We’ll see a few clouds rolling through at times, but for the most part expect generally sunny skies for most of the day. We should see high temperatures between 92 and 94 degrees for the Omaha metro.
Here's a scouting report on FSU baseball starting pitcher Carson Dorsey
FSU baseball's postseason hopes are riding on the left arm of scheduled starting pitcher Carson Dorsey against the Virginia Cavaliers in Sunday's elimination game at the College World Series.
Here's a scouting report on Dorsey:
"Fastball is 91-94 and will touch 96. Fastball plays well up in the zone with good carry. Have to see it down. Good command glove side. Arm path can get long and will lead to misses up. Breaking ball 80-83, has to start up out of hand to be a strike. Will show changeup but more for show."
Carson Dorsey facts
- Carson Dorsey was named to the All-Regional Team after throwing a career-high 8.2 innings vs. Stetson (5/31) to open the tournament.
- Dorsey's 8.2 IP were the most for a Nole since 2018; he allowed one earned run and struck out seven
- Dorsey has picked off six runners, half of FSU's 12 on the season.
- Florida State won Dorsey's first five starts of the season; Dorsey was 2-0 with a 3.08 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 26.1 IP in that span.
- After a 24-4 win vs. UConn to open the Super Regional, Dorsey improved to 7-4 on the season; the Noles are 8-2 in Dorsey's starts this year.
- Dorsey set a career-high with 11 strikeouts at No. 11 Wake Forest.
More:FSU baseball vs. Virginia prediction, odds for elimination bracket in College World Series
What channel is Florida State baseball vs. Virginia on today?
TV: ESPN 2 p.m.
Tally turnaround: FSU baseball flips the table in 2024
A year after missing the postseason for first time since 1977 - breaking an NCAA-record 44-year run - FSU has won 24 more games than last year. FSU's 24-win improvement is the best year-over-year in school history; the previous best (non- COVID) was +13 from 2001 (47) to 2002 (60).
Largest Win Improvement From 2023
Florida State* +24 2023: 23 2024: 47
Louisiana Tech* +17 2023: 28 2024: 45
San Diego* +17 2023: 24 2024: 41
Tulane* +17 2023: 19 2024: 36
Florida State baseball schedule
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Virginia baseball schedule
See the Virginia baseball schedule
Florida State baseball roster
See the Florida State baseball roster.
Virginia baseball roster
See the Virginia baseball roster.
