June 12, 2010

Super Regional Scores, Schedules & Capsules

CBI Live
Gray, Garvin Get it Done for Commodores

By Jimmy Jones

Special to CollegeBaseballInsider.com

(photos by Jimmy Jones)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Sonny Gray (right) and Grayson Garvin combined to shut down the Florida State offense, and the Commodore offense powered its way to a 6-2 win in the second game of the Tallahassee Super Regional to snap the host’s seven-game win streak.

The win forces a sudden-death Game 3 on Sunday at Dick Howser Stadium with a trip to the College World Series on the line.
 
The Seminoles (46-18) fell victim to three fielding miscues in Game 2 that led to three runs. Two of those three errors occurred in the first inning as the first two Vanderbilt hitters reached on back-to-back errors.
 
Gray (10-5) held the powerful Seminole lineup in check in 6.0 innings, allowing two runs while scattering seven hits. The flame-throwing right-hander walked two and struck out two to pick up the win.
 
Gray avoided trouble in the fourth and sixth innings, inducing a pair of double plays, including a spectacular turn by shortstop Brian Harris (left) to end the fourth.

 
He was also the recipient of a putout at the plate in the sixth in which right fielder Joe Loftus threw a one-hop strike to catcher Andrew Giobbi to gun down Jayce Boyd to preserve the VU lead at 3-2.
 
"You really have to take your hat off to Sonny Gray," Florida State coach Mike Martin said. "He did a tremendous job today for Vanderbilt. He was an impressive pitcher and outstanding athlete and he really shut us down. A real credit to him."

"All year, Coach (Tim Corbin) has been making a big point on defense and pitching and we did both of those well," Loftus said. "When we get in those situations for some reason I always feel like I want the ball to be hit to me. I feel like I can make that throw every time. I made the throw and Gio put the tag down."
 
The loss spoiled an outstanding outing by FSU starter Brian Busch (right), who worked a season-high 7.0 innings. The sophomore southpaw gave up three runs, one earned, on five hits as he walked two and struck out two.
 
After giving up two unearned runs in the first inning, Busch allowed just one more run on a solo shot in the third by red-hot Commodore third baseman Jason Esposito, his 12th of the season and second of the Super Regional.
 
The Seminoles finally pushed across a run in the fifth as Boyd connected on his eighth home run of the season and second of the tournament to cut the Vanderbilt lead to 3-1.
 
FSU looked to add more in the fifth as Lopez singled through the right side and Johnson was hit by a pitch with two outs. Gray would keep the Vanderbilt lead in tact as he forced Game 1 hero Mike McGee to ground out to third for the final out of the inning.
 
The Commodore took control of the game in the eighth with three runs off reliever Daniel Bennett, with Curt Casali's double off the top off the right field monster being the big blow of the rally. Giobbi added a suicide squeeze for the second run and Mike Yastrzemski topped it off with a two-out RBI single to finish the scoring.
 
Yastrzemski, whose grandfather is Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski and whose father Michael played for the Seminoles from 1980-83, is 4 for 7 (.571) in the Super Regional with a double, homer and two RBI.
 
"I really felt in this type of situation the three runs there at the end were very, very important because I know what type of team Florida State is," Corbin said. "I'm just proud of the kids. I know what is in our DNA and our ability to fight back. That's why coaches love coaching these kids."
 
Garvin hurled the final three innings and scattered just three hits in that span to earn his first save of the season. The sophomore southpaw kept the Seminoles off the scoreboard and did not issue a walk as he finished the game with three strikeouts.
 
The stage is set and the two squads will square off in the third and final game of the Tallahassee Super Regional on Sunday, June 13, with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. EDT. The game will air live on ESPN.
 
Vanderbilt will send sophomore right-hander Jack Armstrong (7-3, 4.32 ERA) to the mound, while Florida State's starter is tentatively scheduled to be junior right-hander Geoff Parker (4-1, 4.94 ERA).