After a resounding win Friday, the Florida State baseball team is one win away from its first College World Series berth in five years.

The Seminoles (46-15) will have their first of two chances to clinch that trip Saturday afternoon (11 a.m. on ESPN) at Dick Howser Stadium when they play Game 2 of the Tallahassee Super Regional against UConn (35-25).

UConn head coach Jim Penders admitted after Friday's loss that the smothering Tallahassee heat which exceeded 90 degrees during Friday afternoon's game affected his team. It's expected to be 85 degrees at first pitch Saturday, but will likely surpass 90 degrees during the game, even reaching 95 or so if the game goes past the projected three hours.

FSU is looking to clinch its 24th CWS appearance in program history. In the Super Regional era (since 1999), FSU has won six of the seven supers in which it won the opening game. Only two of those six series wins even reached the third game, with FSU sweeping the other four.

After winning with Saturday starter Carson Dorsey on the mound last week, FSU will throw its ace, sophomore lefty Jamie Arnold (11-3, 2.45 ERA) in Saturday's second game of the series. Arnold has posted a 2.73 ERA over his last four starts, striking out 45 batters over 26.1 innings while walking just five.

UConn is starting redshirt senior righty Stephen Quigley (6-3, 3.69 ERA) for Saturday's second game after using its other two weekend starters in Friday's 24-4 loss. Quigley has thrown 97.2 innings for the Huskies this season, most recently allowing one earned run over 9.2 innings across two appearances vs. Oklahoma last weekend in the Norman Regional. He's got 84 strikeouts to 24 walks this season, but has allowed 102 hits including 12 home runs and 18 doubles.

FSU starting lineup


UConn starting lineup


Follow along below for live updates from Howser.

FSU baseball lands the first transfer for the 2025 season in Evan Chrest

FSU sports information:

The Florida State men’s outdoor track and field team concluded the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Friday at Hayward Field with Jeremiah Davis and Kyvon Tatham earning All-American honors.

Davis added his second first-team All-America honor of the meet by placing fourth in the men’s triple jump with a measurement of 16.62m (54-6½). It was his third All-American finish in the event in his career.

“Jeremiah is a warrior, “said FSU track and field head coach Bob Braman.

Tatham finished eighth with a lifetime best, tying the eighth-farthest jump in school history at 16.30m (53-5¾), securing first-team All-American for the first time in his career.

“Kyvon had a huge lifetime best to earn All-American honors, working his way up the standings today is incredible,” Braman said.

David Mullarkey concluded his season in the 5,000-meters, placing 18th with a time of 14:05.77.

“I’m really proud of the men to rally up and finish top 20,” added Braman “Our kids and coaches kept focus and kept fighting.”

The men’s team finished 19th with 15 points.

The 20th-ranked women’s team will begin finals on Saturday, starting with Alexandra Webster in the 100-meter hurdles at 6:12 p.m.

FLORIDA STATE NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, June 8- Women’s finals
6:12 p.m. 100m hurdles-Alexandra Webster
7:07 p.m. 200m-Dajaz DeFrand

A number of prospects mention FSU, including Dallas Wilson, Gregory Thomas, Jordan Young, Tyler Atkinson, Tristen Keys

Some notes on prospects at the Tampa event. Tramell Jones took part. Jaime Ffrench drops a top 5 (FSU isn't in the mix)

Photos from Mike Olivella from Friday afternoon:

"Florida State flat-out out-played us, out-coached us, out-pitched us, out-caught the ball. They did everything right. It was 24-3. I thought we were next door at Doak Campbell. Thought I saw Charlie Ward running around. 24-3 looks more like a football score."

(And, yes, he used 24-3 repeatedly. FSU won 24-4.)

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Game 1 of the Super Regionals as FSU (45-15) plays host to UConn (35-22) on Friday in game 1 of the Super Regionals at noon (ESPN). Mike Ferrin and Gaby Sanchez will be on the call.

We'll have some notes and links here as well as lineups and updates once the game begins. Chat with us during the game.

The forecast is sunny, likely 89 degrees at first pitch and it could climb to 95 degrees by 3 p.m. Tickets are sold out for the game.

LHP Carson Dorsey will be on the mound for FSU. UConn has not announced a starter. LHP Garrett Coe has started 17 games. He's 9-5 with a 4.7 at 0 ERA, with 86 strikeouts and 39 walks. RHP Stephen Quigley has started 16 games. He's 6-3 with a 3.59 ERA, with 84 strikeouts and 24 walks.

If you've missed them, some stories from this week:

FSU-UConn stat comparison

Marco Dinges was hospitalized for an extended amount of time, and the TCC star has developed into one of FSU's most productive hitters. This is a really good read from Curt.

In my baseball notebook from Thursday, Dorsey will start and Jamie Arnold is on the mound Saturday. Also: Some two-out hitting numbers that I thought would be interesting but it's tough to fathom the improvement from 2023 to 2024.

Watch: Link Jarrett, James Tibbs and Jaime Ferrer preview the Supers

FSU has added a transfer RHP for the 2025 season in Evan Chrest.

Florida State’s bats were hot from the start. But they were also productive with two outs.

The Seminoles matched a season high with five home runs, jumping on UConn’s pitching early and cruising to a 24-4 win on Friday afternoon. Jaime Ferrer hit two home runs, the first with two outs, while DeAmez Ross hit a three-run shot.

The only thing hotter than the stifling temperatures at Dick Howser Stadium today may have been the FSU bats. A UConn pitching staff that entered the Tallahassee Super Regional in good form ran into an FSU buzzsaw Friday as the Seminoles mashed five home runs and plated 24 runs to move to the brink of the College World Series.

The responses to the AG records complaint (mandamus) were filed late last night. There are briefs from the ACC, from the ESPN entities, and from an "amicus" group made up of the B12, SEC, and B1G. It is clear that FSU is fighting the world here. I suspected that we may see the whole world oppose us. Anyway, I have gotten through the ACC response.

First, I may have been wrong when I said jurisdiction should not be an issue now that FSU has alleged more in the main case. The ACC attacks jurisdiction hard here, so hard I expect it to be raised in the motion to dismiss before Judge Cooper. I think they will lose this issue, but in raising it they have built in more delay for the records case. Now Judge Dempsey has to decide that first, and if she decides there is jurisdiction we can be expected to see an immediate appeal and motion to stay the records case.

Second, I don't like how it's all tied to the litigation itself. The AG surely is doing this related to the lawsuit, but that is not the predicate. These would be public whether that lawsuit exists or not.

Third, I think they totally underplay the key case here, NCAA v. AP. That is the case I relied on in asking back in 2015, but it appears I would not have been right because the ACC says in fn9 that FSU/its reps/its lawyers ever reviewed the previous agreements. In any event, the ACC tries to brush off the NCAA case by relying on a comment the court made that simply does not apply here. In short, the court there said that any time the state or its reps receives a document for use in official business, it becomes a public record. The court did acknowledge that "merely seeing" it is not enough, using the example of an employee who somehow had password access to see confidential records but was not supposed to still accessing them. The court agreed that should not create public records (it is irrational for some other reasons, but I digress). However, that is not the same here. The ACC absolutely allowed FSU to access the records. It argues that since the deals were already in place, these were not used "for business." I think they are wrong. FSU was accessing them to review to determine its obligations and to decide what to do. How does it get more business than that?

My final thought is really not a records thought. The ACC talks more about "the relationship" in its intro and jurisdiction arguments. It uses broad language that I think is directly contrary to the GoR in suggesting simply that the schools "transferred all their media rights to the ACC through June 30, 2027." It totally omits the qualifying language of the actual GOR. It then says that the ACC transferred SOME of those rights to ESPN for the deal. It applies the same logic to the extension signed in 2016.

This is the first time I feel somewhat confident that the ESPN deal will contain NOTHING useful for the ACC or ESPN and that it is going to be really, really hard for them keep the FSU rights tangled up if it leaves. The ACC needs a hook in the media deal or it is going to fall on its face. We have to get this thing before the court on the merits. And soon. I think the problems we are now seeing may be real will be recognized by a judge in any state. I still want to see the terms, but I can't ignore the ACC lawyers keep saying things about the contracts that are very contrary to what has been suggested.

As expected, the ACC has filed a motion to dismiss the FSU amended complaint. We saw with the response to the AG that the ACC appears to be fully vested in challenging jurisdiction overall. I was and am surprised, but I had never looked into it with a ton of detail. I thought the issue was mostly an issue of pleading, but the ACC takes a strong shot at the idea there is simply no jurisdiction here. My gut tells me that jurisdiction will be found, but I am not sure.

The ACC then argues the ripeness issue as to challenging the withdrawal payment. They say until we announce we are leaving and trigger it, it's not an issue. I think this will be rejected.

They then move to dismiss particular claims, alleging they do not "state a cause of action." The first issue is the withdrawal payment issue. They make the same arguments as before. It would be good to read them. There are some specific issues in NC that would be very bad for FSU if they apply (and they likely do). For example, under NC law it could be that this is not even subject to the illegal penalty analysis. There is NC law saying that a withdrawal payment is not the same as a liquidated damages penalty, especially when it's not tied to "breach."

Next it argues that the FSU breach of contract claims are not valid. A lot of it seems on point. Like I don't see how FSU can rely on the laudatory language as binding contract terms. And I think most of the claims have a major issue - that FSU was engaged in all those decisions. I think a few of these may get bounced now, but expect Judge Cooper to leave some breach of contract claims standing.

FSU had added a new count in the Amended Complaint expressly challenging jurisdiction in NC. The ACC argues that the Florida court cannot rule on the issue before a NC court. That is probably right. That issue will have to be appealed through the NC courts and possibly into the federal courts if there is a base jurisdiction issue to resolve.

The ACC seeks again to dismiss the restraint of trade count. I think that will be dismissed. It really is not a legal principle that applies here.

The Amended Complaint also has a count claiming the Grant of Rights is unenforceable for other reasons. One is the claim FSU has a fundamental right to leave so it's not consistent. I think this is a weak argument, but I am not sure it's a dismissal argument. Next is the suggestion the contracts were never approved because they are signed by the president. I think this is weak, and it may be an issue the court can and should address this early. It is just a legal question. FSU also claims the GoR was not supported by consideration. I think the ACC argument on this is stronger. It may have been piss poor consideration, but there was consideration. The ACC does a good job citing a lot of law on how courts don't engage in sufficiency often. Next is the FSU claim that the penalties are overall just unconscionable. That may survive dismissal, but I am not sure where this would go. I think they would have to prove both procedural and substantive unconscionability, and I am not sure they can do that. The last thing the ACC moves to dismiss is the claim of contractual frustration of purpose. I suspect this will be dismissed. The applicable doctrine is not designed to protect parties from not taking into account expected or expectable changes in the market, economy, etc.

The ACC then moves to generally dismiss a lot based on the statutes of limitations and equitable defenses like laches or estoppel. I think they are all good defenses, but I am not sure they are solid enough to justify dismissal now.

I wonder if we will see this addressed 6/18 or if all this gets put on hold pending the cert petition.

A look here:

Florida State is hosting its first big recruiting weekend of the cycle this weekend as they are hosting nine prospects on official visits.

Prospects are arriving on campus on Friday morning and will depart on Sunday.

He's with Lake County (High-A)

I miss watching Parker pitch on Fridays

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FSU sports information:

The No.20 Florida State women’s outdoor track and field began the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday at Hayward Field with Alexandra Webster and Dajaz DeFrand advancing to finals on Saturday.

Webster clocked the first automatic qualifying time for the Noles in the 100-meter hurdles, placing fifth at 12.71.

“That was truly a gusty race for Alexandra,” said FSU track and field head coach Bob Braman. “Ended up fifth-fastest overall and was only one-hundredth of a second off her lifetime best.”

DeFrand and Shenese Walker both earned second-team All-American honors in the 100-meter, with DeFrand leading the in 12th place with a time of 11.19. Walker followed in 13th at 11.23.

“One and five one-hundredth seconds out of the final, “said Braman.” “Both second team All-Americans but I know they wanted more.”

Suus Altorf concluded her season in the 1,500, placing 18th with a time of 4:12.74.

“Great season for Suus, especially being the fourth fastest all-time for the Noles during the championship season,” added Braman.

Tyra Wilson competed in the 400 hurdles, placing 18th with a time of 57.57.

DeFrand concluded her evening in the 200, advancing to Saturday’s final with the ninth overall seed at 22.71.

“Dajaz had one of the fastest 200 and she will be going to battle in the final on Saturday,” Braman added.

The men’s team will begin the finals on Saturday, starting Jeremiah Davis and Kyvon Tatham in the triple jump at 9:20 p.m.

FRIDAY, June 7- Men’s finals
8:20 p.m. Triple jump– Jeremiah Davis, Kyvon Tatham
10:55 p.m. 5,000m – David Mullarkey

SATURDAY, June 8- Women’s finals
6:12 p.m. 100m hurdles-Alexandra Webster
7:07 p.m. 200m-Dajaz DeFrand

…that FSU currently finds themselves in having any impact on recruiting? @Fishbits I’m curious whether the instability adds any new dynamics.

It'll be FSU-UConn this weekend in the Tallahassee Super Regional. The Huskies allowed just nine runs over four games in the Norman Regional, beating Oklahoma twice.

We find out Tuesday if the series begins Friday or Saturday and game times.

I watched a lot of college baseball this past week and one major thing that I noticed is how many beautiful ballparks are out there.

Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, and Virginia being a few that stuck out. Obviously Florida just got a new one that is very nice.

What addition or additions would you like to see at Howser if we rebuilt? I really like that brick wall interior with seating right behind home plate. Open concourse with club seating.

Via the NCAA:

On a recommendation from the Football Rules Committee, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Thursday approved allowing commercial sponsor advertisements on football fields for regular-season games in all three divisions, starting with the 2024 season.

Under the new rule, the corporate advertisements can be placed in three spots on the field: A single advertisement centered on the 50-yard line is allowed in addition to no more than two smaller flanking advertisements elsewhere on the field. This could be done on a game-by-game basis or for the whole season.

One rationale for the rule change is to align regular-season games in home stadiums with those already existing advertisement allowances for games played in the postseason bowl games and neutral-site games.

This move also provides an additional revenue opportunity for schools that has not been available during the regular season.

"This change allows schools to generate additional income to support student-athletes," NCAA President Charlie Baker said. "I'm pleased that we could find flexibility within our rules to make this happen for member schools."

The rule change is supported by Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision conferences, as well as the Division I FBS Oversight and FCS Oversight Committees.

I caught up with Jacksonville pitcher transfer Evan Chrest this afternoon after he announced this morning he's transferring to FSU ahead of the 2025 season. We talked about how FSU's proof of concept helped sell him on the Seminoles, Micah Posey's message to him, what he brings as a pitcher and much more.