FSU baseball beats Oregon State to stay alive in NCAA Super Regional

Florida State baseball won a pitchers’ duel against Oregon State 3-1 in game two of the Corvallis super regional at Goss Stadium to force a winner-takes-all game three.

FSU’s Jamie Arnold and Oregon State’s Ethan Kleinschmit delivered a pair of pitching gems, with both lefties eclipsing 100 pitches.

After throwing 50 pitches in the first two innings, Arnold settled himself for the Seminoles (42-15) and threw no more than 15 pitches in an inning before being replaced in the seventh inning. He struck out nine batters and retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced before being replaced by Maison Martinez in the seventh inning with two outs.

STAYIN’ ALIVE: How quality pitching kept FSU alive in Super Regional vs. Oregon State

It was a dominant outing for Arnold, and one that FSU needed in a win-or-go-home scenario. The pairing of Martinez and Peyton Prescott out of the bullpen provided quality relief for the Seminoles.

Martinez only faced two batters, but he recorded a three-pitch strikeout on Aiva Arquette in the seventh inning with a runner on base. After a leadoff walk in the eighth, FSU went to Prescott, who came in and threw two consecutive 100 MPH fastballs to help him record a strikeout and an inning-ending double play to keep FSU ahead in the eighth inning.

For the Beavers, Kleinschmit delivered six quality innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out 11 while allowing just two hits in his outing.

Oregon State took an early lead, recording its only run of the night in the first inning on a RBI single from Wilson Weber. Arquette reached on a single, and he promptly stole second, which set him up to score the game’s first run on the Weber single.

Max Williams tied the game for FSU with his fifth RBI hit of the College World Series, a single that scored Jaxson West, who had reached on an error earlier in the seventh inning.

Gage Harrelson’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the difference for the Seminoles. On a 3-2 pitch with a pair of outs and two runners on, Harrelson lined a single up the middle to score James Hankerson Jr from second base to take a crucial one-run lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, FSU loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a two-out walk from Hankerson. West worked a seven-pitch at bat to walk in a run and give FSU a 3-1 lead.

Prescott remained in the game in the ninth inning, and he struck out the side to close out the win and avoid a repeat of the game one blown lead. Prescott finished with four strikeouts and no hits in two innings of relief work.

Game three will be broadcast at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 on Sunday, June 8.

FSU baseball vs Oregon State NCAA super regional schedule

Friday, June 6

• Game 1: Oregon State 5, Florida State 4

Saturday, June 7

• Game 2: Florida State 3, Oregon State 1

Sunday, June 8

• Game 3: FSU vs. Oregon State, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

How to watch FSU baseball vs Oregon State in NCAA super regional

• Time: Sunday, June 8 – 9 p.m.
• Where: Goss Stadium / Corvallis, Oregon
• TV/Stream: ESPN2 / ESPN+, Fubo TV (Free trial), Sling TV

Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney