ATHENS, Ga. – From the “last four in” to the first team advancing to Super Regionals, Florida State (39-21) routed No. 4 national seed Georgia (46-17) for a second straight night, 10-1, winning the Athens Regional in grand style.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| FSU | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| UGA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
Behind Regional MVP Mike Salvatore’s two hits, including his 22nd double of the season, FSU pounded Georgia’s pitchers to the tune of 10 hits and drew seven walks, while the Bulldogs normally strong defense committed a season-high three errors.
Salvatore, Reese Albert and Drew Mendoza combined for six hits, seven runs scored and six RBI with three doubles and a home run at the top of the Seminole lineup.
On the mound, Conor Grady (9-5) twirled the best game of the his Seminole career, tying a career-high with seven innings pitched, allowing just six hits and a run and striking out three batters.
The Seminoles picked up right where they left off on Saturday night as Salvatore ripped the second pitch of the game into left field for a single.
Albert followed and drove a Cole Wilcox (3-2) offering the opposite way over the wall in left field for a two-run shot, giving FSU the early 2-0 lead. For Albert it was his seventh blast of the season and second of the Athens Regional.
In the 3rd inning, the Seminoles added to their lead as Albert walked and Mendoza doubled off the glove of the third baseman. On the play, the ball was thrown away back into the infield, allowing Albert to score and Mendoza to race to third. Two batters later, Mat Nelson grounded out to bring Mendoza home and make it 4-0 for FSU.
FSU added another run in the fourth inning after both Tim Becker and Salvatore worked walks with two outs. Albert was the hero again in the frame as he delivered an RBI single up the middle extending the lead to 5-0.
In the 6th inning, the Seminoles kept flexing their bats as Nander De Sedas reached on an error and Carter Smith singled to right field. With one out, Salvatore displayed his veteran leadership with a double to the gap in left-center scoring both runners.
With a 7-0 lead, Mendoza continued the onslaught as he doubled to right-center field to score Salvatore and Martin followed with a single to center field to score Mendoza, pushing the FSU lead to 9-0.
In the bottom of the inning Tucker Maxwell hit a solo home run to right field to put the Bulldogs on the board against Grady.
The Seminoles added another run for good measure in the 8th inning as Robby Martin hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Salvatore and pushing the lead to 10-1.
Nander De Sedas added two hits in the seven-hole for Florida State and had six for the regional. Six Noles, led by Salvatore’s .643 average, hit .385 or better for the weekend.
The Seminoles will await its Super Regional opponent out of the Baton Rouge regional. Southern Miss will have to beat host LSU two games to advance.
ALL-REGIONAL TEAM:
Most Outstanding Player: Mike Salvatore, FSU
P CJ Van Eyk, Florida State, Soph.
P Tim Elliott, Georgia, Jr.
C Pedro Pages, Florida Atlantic, Jr.
DH Drew Mendoza, Florida State, Jr.
1B Carter Smith, Florida State, Jr.
2B Nander De Sedas, Florida State, Fr.
3B Aaron Schunk, Georgia, Jr.
SS Mike Salvatore, Florida State, Sr.
OF Tucker Maxwell, Georgia, Jr.
OF Tim Becker, Florida State, Sr.
OF Bobby Morgensen, Florida Atlantic, Jr.
OF NOTE:
- For the weekend, Florida State cranked out 35 runs on 45 hits. Including the Noles final game of the ACC Tournament, FSU has 46 runs and 61 hits over the past four games (33 innings).
- Mike Salvatore had 9 hits in the Regional. Through two games, Salvatore was tied for the national lead with seven hits in the postseason. He was named Athens Regional MVP.
- Salvatore hit a two-run double in the sixth inning, his 22nd of the year. That’s the most for a Seminole since John Sansone hit 26 in 2016.
- Over his past 10 games, Salvatore is hitting .478 (22-for-46) with six doubles, a triple and two home runs. His 11 RBI are a team-high in that span and he has struck out just twice.
- Starting pitcher Conor Grady tied a career high with 7.0 innings pitched, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out three. He earned his 9th win of the year.
- Reese Albert’s home run was his seventh of the season, tying his 2018 total. All 13 Seminoles with a home run this season have set or tied single-season highs. FSU’s 79 home runs are the Noles most since hitting 86 in 2010.
- Tim Becker drew two walks Sunday and reached safely in 8 of 14 plate appearances this weekend. As a team, the Noles drew 7 walks Sunday after drawing 7 base on balls combined in the first two games.
- Georgia committed three errors Sunday, its first game with more than 2 errors all season.
- FSU has scored at least 10 runs in four straight games, its longest double-digit scoring stretch this season.
- Florida State has now won three road regionals in seven tries under Mike Martin (1996 at Stanford and 2010 at Connecticut). FSU was the one seed in both of its previous regional wins away from Dick Howser Stadium.
- The Seminoles need one more win to reach 40 wins for the 42nd consecutive season.
- Florida State outscored Georgia 22-4 in two regional games at Foley Field. Entering the weekend, Georgia had the nation’s longest home winning streak (14 games) and was 28-3 in the regular season on its home field.
- Since the Super Regional format began in 1999, Florida State has started 2-0 14 times. FSU is now 12-2 in the third game and advanced to a Super Regional 13 times.
- FSU will play in its 17th Super Regional this year, the most in the 21-year history of the current NCAA format. The next closest teams are LSU and Cal State Fullerton with 13. LSU has a chance to reach its 14th Super Regional this season and FSU would travel to Baton Rouge to face the Tigers.
For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, or keep up with the team on social media through Twitter (@FSUBaseball), Facebook (/FSUBaseball), and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
