2019 College World Series: Florida State upends Arkansas 1-0

Florida State and Arkansas were deadlocked in a scoreless tie for the majority of their Saturday night clash. But in the top of the 9th inning, the Seminoles plated the only run they needed to take their first game in the 2019 College World Series.

The switch-hitting Nander De Sedas hit a sac fly to right field that scored J.C. Flowers to put the first run on the board of the game. It took until the top of the 9th, but the Noles pulled ahead and eventually won 1-0 over the Razorbacks to put them in an early hole.

Arkansas’ offense was stymied for much of the night in Omaha. They could only register five hits, with left fielder Christian Franklin being responsible for two of them. Casey Optiz, Dominic Fletcher and Trevor Ezell recorded the other three, but the rest of the lineup mightily struggled.

They could not crack the code of Drew Parrish or the aforementioned Flowers. Parrish cruised through eight innings of work. He allowed the five hits and issued two walks, but struck out nine of the 30 batters he faced. He allowed one extra base hit, a double off the bat of Franklin. Flowers pitched a clean bottom of the 9th inning and recorded a strikeout.

FSU’s offense wasn’t much better, despite the fact that they were able to get the win. They too had five hits, but none went for extra bases. Reese Albert, Flowers, Carter Smith and Matheu Nelson were responsible for the hits recorded on the night.

Arkansas’ Isaiah Campbell was terrific. He allowed those five hits, along with two walks, and struck out 10 of the 28 batters he faced. As mentioned, he didn’t let any extra base hits up, either. So he certainly did his job and then some. Cody Scroggins was responsible for the earned run, but was still relatively okay, despite letting up a HBP. Matt Cronin pitched a scoreless frame as well with a strikeout.

Arkansas will now face off with the Texas Tech Red Raiders in an elimination game on Monday afternoon.