(OMAHA, Neb.)—Only twelve teams in College World Series history have lost their first game and gone on to hoist the championship trophy at the end of the tournament, and it seemed as if the two teams playing in the second game of opening day were very much aware of that fact. The two starting pitchers from Arkansas and Florida State would not stop delivering in what was an action-less game in the box score, but a close and crazy finish nonetheless. From the help of Seminole starter, Drew Parrish, head coach Mike Martin opened up his farewell tour in Omaha with a gritty first-round win off of a go-ahead run in the ninth inning to win over Arkansas.
All-American pitcher, Isaiah Campbell, got the start for Arkansas in the matchup. He was 12-1 with a 2.26 ERA going into the game against the Seminoles. Drew Parrish was the starter for Florida State and didn’t have the resume that Campbell boasted, but was one of the aces all year for the Seminoles—striking out 125 batters in just 94 innings. There was a feeling that the game may turn into a defensive showcase, and it was an accurate feeling.
Early in the game was when most of the offensive action was occurring, but it never translated into runs. In the top of the second inning, Florida State managed to hit two base-knocks to put runners on first and second with just one out. Campbell gave an All-American response, with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and end the first sign of life in the game.
Later in the third inning, Arkansas led off the inning with two singles from Christian Franklin and Trevor Ezell. Casey Martin stepped in and grounded out to the pitcher, but advanced the runners to second and third base with just one out—and Matt Goodheart, the team’s leader in batting average (.356), up to the plate. Goodheart lined into a double play from second to third base to bring the promising inning to an end, and leave the game scoreless.
Again in the bottom of the sixth inning, Arkansas started knocking on the door. Dominic Fletcher hit a single to center field that brought Goodheart just 90 feet from home plate with two away in the inning. In another situation where a reliable Razorback hitter stepped into the box, this time being Heston Kjerstad (team leader in home runs), again Arkansas left runners stranded as Kjerstad grounded out to the pitcher.
Finally in the top of the ninth, the game broke open. J.C. Flowers led off the inning being hit by a pitch from Cody Scroggins. Carter Smith would ground into a fielder’s choice to Arkansas shortstop, Martin, and was able to advance both runners safely with nobody out. Those would be the only two batters Scroggins would face.
Ace reliever, Matt Cronin, came in for Arkansas and saw a sacrifice back to himself in the first batter he faced, which advanced the two runners into scoring position with just one out. Florida State then found their hero in Nander De Sedas, who hit a sacrifice-fly to right field that brought the go-ahead run from third in to score. That was all she wrote.
Arkansas would go three-up three-down in the bottom of the ninth, and end the game with Florida State stunning Arkansas in the opening round. Much similar to Michigan, the Seminoles barely earned a spot in the NCAA Regional Tournament to even try to earn a spot in the CWS. Both teams have now won their opening games and await each other in the winner’s bracket.
Christian Franklin would go 2-3, and Campbell threw for seven innings and gave up no earned runs and had ten strikeouts for the Razorbacks. Matheu Nelson went 2-3 as well, and Parrish threw for eight innings and gave up no runs with nine strikeouts to lead Florida State. Arkansas now faces Texas Tech in an elimination game Monday at 1:00 p.m., and Florida State follows them with a matchup against Michigan at 6:00 p.m.
