(OMAHA, Neb.)——Wednesday night’s baseball game saw the end of one of the greatest coaching career’s in sports history.
Texas Tech eliminated Florida State by a score of 4-1, ending Seminole head coach Mike Martin’s 40-year tenure in Tallahassee. One of the best coaches in college athletics, Martin’s final game was one that echoed bittersweet; sweet because they improbably made the College World Series at all, but bitter in the way they exited.
The game started like the other games of Florida State’s CWS trip; not a lot of runs. The Seminoles struggled to get runs on the board, partially because their recent struggles at the plate, but also because of Texas Tech starter Bryce Bonnin. The Red Raider starter went five innings, giving up one run, which was unearned, and only two hits. He set the tone early for Texas Tech to jump out to a lead.
The Red Raiders scored the first run of the game in the fourth inning after Cam Warren singled to left to drive in Neuse off of FSU starter Conor Grady. Red Raiders, unlike Monday’s elimination game against Arkansas, jumped out to the early lead.
The Seminoles responded quickly. In the bottom half of that inning, Texas Tech catcher Braxton Fulford attempted to pick off Robby Martin at third base. Fulford’s throw was off the mark, and Martin took advantage and scored. After four, the game was knotted at one apiece.
A run would not come again until the sixth. Red Raider second baseman Brian Klein homered off of Grady, which would be Grady’s last pitch of the night. Texas Tech once again using the long ball to their favor, making the game 2-1.
Texas Tech saw its biggest jolt of energy out of the bullpen. Junior Taylor Floyd came in relief of Bonnin and the Red Raiders needed no further arm after that. Floyd pitched four shutout innings of baseball, including a whopping eight strikeouts. His four innings earned him a save.
Texas Tech added two insurance runs in the eighth, off of RBI’s from Josh Jung and Kurt Wilson. The runs gave the Red Raiders some added momentum, but at that point, Taylor Floyd had the game under control.
In the bottom of the ninth, the crowd began to realize an era was coming to an end. FSU coach Mike Martin was likely about to coach his last three outs of his career. As Reese Albert struck out, the crowd rose to its feet, some to congratulate Texas Tech, more to salute Mike Martin.
Martin made one final curtain call out of the dugout after the game and personally thanked the Florida State fans, which came out in droves to support their head man.
Mike Martin finishes his career with quite the legacy. He coached 40 ¥ears at Florida State, making the CWS 17 times. His 2,029 wins are the most by any coach at NCAA Division 1 record, regardless of sport.
Florida State as a team really struggled at the plate in this CWS, despite some solid pitching performances. The Seminoles only scored two combined runs in their three games.
Texas Tech now will play their third straight elimination game, as they face Michigan on Friday. The Red Raiders fell to Michigan in the first game of the tournament 5-3. Tech will have to win two games against the Wolverines to make it to the CWS Final.
