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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, June 1, 2009

Florida St. ousts OSU, 37-6


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Jason Coats is lifted by teammates after he singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Texas Christian beat Oregon State, 5-4, to advance to the super regionals.

BOB BOOTH | Fort Worth Star-Telegram via AP

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Mike Martin sat back and relaxed as his Florida State hitters crossed the plate one after another.

The Seminoles coach was working with a 32-run lead — and it was only the fifth inning.

Stephen Cardullo set a tournament record with seven hits, including three of Florida State's NCAA-record 15 doubles, as the Seminoles routed Ohio State, 37-6, yesterday and advanced to the super regionals.

"I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it," Martin said. "We're sitting there in the fourth inning and I knew we were going to a super regional."

Florida State (45-16) set NCAA postseason records with 37 runs, 38 hits and 66 total bases, while Cardullo tied the school mark for hits in an offensive performance the football team would've been proud of. The Seminoles set or tied 18 NCAA, school or postseason records.

Jason Stidham, the regional's most outstanding player, hit a two-run double as the Seminoles scored eight times in the first and cruised past the pitching-depleted Buckeyes (42-19), who trailed 32-0 in the fifth.

"Everything they did was right," said Ohio State coach Bob Todd, who went through seven pitchers in an attempt to stem the rout. "Everything we did was wrong."

The teams combined for a single-game postseason record for hits (51) and tied the mark for runs, which was previously set in Miami, Ohio's 35-8 victory over Quinnipiac on June 4, 2005.

Ohmed Danesh homered and drove in five runs on four hits, while Mike Meschke was 5 for 5 with a homer and four RBIs. Stidham drove in four runs and led the tournament with 12 RBIs in three games.

Ohio State starter Jared Strayer allowed seven earned runs without recording an out.

Florida State will make its ninth super regional appearance in 11 years against Arkansas.

AUSTIN REGIONAL

Texas 14, Army 10: Preston Clark hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Longhorns (44-13-1) rallied from a four-run deficit to stun the Knights (36-21) at Austin, Texas, and advance to the super regionals.

Less than 24 hours after beating Boston College in 25 innings in the longest game in NCAA history, the Longhorns were at it again with an eight-run ninth.

GAINESVILLE REGIONAL

Florida 16, Miami 5: Preston Tucker and Matt den Dekker drove in three runs apiece and the Gators (42-20) used two big innings to beat the Hurricanes (38-22) at Gainesville, Fla., and advance to the super regionals.

It marked the first time in 11 tries that the Gators advanced in regional play when grouped with the four-time national champions. Tucker and Josh Adams homered for No. 8 national seed Florida.

NORMAN REGIONAL

Arkansas 11, Oklahoma 0: Freshman Drew Smyly had a no-hitter broken up with one out in the ninth inning, and Andy Wilkins went 5 for 5 with two homers and five RBIs as the Razorbacks (37-22) beat the Sooners (43-20) at Norman, Okla., and advanced to the super regionals.

Smyly's bid to throw the first NCAA tournament no-hitter in 18 years ended on an infield hit by Trey Sperring with one out in the ninth. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn then took out Smyly (3-1), and the left-hander received a standing ovation.

CHAPEL HILL REGIONAL

North Carolina 12, Kansas 1: Garrett Gore hit a grand slam to highlight a seven-run third inning for the Tar Heels (45-16) against the Jayhawks (39-24) at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Gore also hit a solo homer in the fifth for the Tar Heels, who are looking for a fourth straight trip to the College World Series, and Dustin Ackley added a solo homer, his 21st of the season.

BATON ROUGE REGIONAL

LSU 10, Minnesota 3: Louis Coleman pitched into the eighth inning, and the Tigers (49-16) beat the Gophers (40-19) at Baton Rouge, La., to advance to the super regionals.

Coleman (12-2) allowed one run on five hits while striking out eight. Blake Dean and Ryan Schimpf each had three hits and two RBIs as the Tigers raced to a 7-0 lead in the top of the third.

FULLERTON REGIONAL

Cal State Fullerton 16, Utah 3: Cal State Fullerton pounded out 21 hits and Tyler Pill (11-3) pitched eight strong innings as the top-seeded Titans (45-14) defeated the Utes (28-31) at Fullerton, Calif., and advanced to the super regionals.

Khris Davis hit two home runs for the Titans, who scored 11 times in the fourth through sixth innings to break the game open and win their 13th straight home game.

FORT WORTH REGIONAL

TCU 5, Oregon St. 4: Jason Coats hit a game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning to give the Horned Frogs (39-18) a win over the Beavers (37-19) at Fort Worth, Texas, and clinch a berth in the super regionals.

Facing a full count with one out in the bottom of the inning, Coats slapped an opposite-field single to right field to score Bryan Holaday from second and win it for TCU.

IRVINE REGIONAL

Virginia 4, UC Irvine 1: Franco Valdes hit a go-ahead triple in the sixth inning to help the Cavaliers (46-12-1) beat the top-ranked Anteaters (45-15) at Irvine, Calif., and advance to the super regionals for the first time in school history.

Virginia, which has made six straight postseason appearances, allowed just two runs in 27 innings in winning all three of its regional games.

UC Irvine was held to four hits by Andrew Carraway and Kevin Arico.

TEMPE REGIONAL

Arizona St. 8, Oral Roberts 3: Zack MacPhee's two-run, go-ahead single in the sixth inning helped lead the Sun Devils (47-12) beat the Golden Eagles (33-15) at Tempe, Ariz.

Jared McDonald added a two-run, inside-the-park home run in the eighth inning as Arizona State advanced to the super regionals for the third straight year.