TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 7 national seed Florida State is the top seed in the Tallahassee Regional that begins Friday at 12:00 p.m. on ESPNU. Mississippi State (2-seed) and Oklahoma (3-seed) play at noon, while FSU and 4-seed Samford will play Friday at 7:00 p.m., also on ESPNU.
The Seminoles earned its 35th regional hosting distinction and its 41st consecutive postseason appearance, the second-longest streak in history and longest active streak. FSU earned the automatic bid out of the Atlantic Coast Conference after sweeping through the ACC Tournament last week in Durham, N.C. FSU (43-17) has the most RPI Top 25 wins in the country with 16, including three last week in the tournament (NC State, Clemson and Louisville).
FSU will throw RHP Cole Sands (7-3, 4.46 ERA) in the opener against the Bulldogs. Sands struck out a career high 11 batters in his last appearance against Clemson. In the 2017 regular season, Sands, making his first Friday night start, allowed two earned runs in five innings against Samford.
First baseman Rhett Aplin, playing as a designated hitter, set career highs with four hits, four RBI and four runs scored in the 16-3 win over the Bulldogs. FSU swept Samford in three games last season and are 21-1 all-time against the school from Birmingham, Ala.
This is Samford’s second all-time appearance in the postseason. In 2012, Samford and Mississippi State were both in the Tallahassee Regional, with Samford beating MSU twice and losing twice to Florida State, including 5-2 in the deciding game.
Samford will throw LHP Samuel Strickland (8-2, 1.89 ERA) in the opener.
Each game of the regional will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Todd Walker (commentary) will provide coverage throughout the weekend. The winner of the Tallahassee Regional will meet up with the winner of the Clemson Regional, featuring No. 10 national seed Clemson, Vanderbilt, St. John’s and Morehead State.
If Florida State wins the regional, FSU will host the Super Regionals next weekend.
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).
