The Florida State baseball team rallied to a 7‑4 win over Northern Illinois, securing a spot in the championship game of the Tallahassee Regional.
Ben Barrett provided the decisive blow, launching a two‑run homer in the tenth inning that shifted momentum in FSU’s favor.
Starter Cooper Whited worked into the seventh frame, delivering 76 pitches before being pulled, a workload that set the tone for a depleted bullpen.
Relievers Chris Knier and Brodie Purcell answered the call, with Knier throwing 64 pitches and fanning five batters, while Purcell logged 51 pitches and recorded seven strikeouts over 3.1 innings.
The Seminoles’ top three arms — Wes Mendes, Trey Beard and Bryson Moore — have already seen action this weekend, with Moore surrendering 88 pitches in five innings against St. John’s on Friday, an outing that makes him a likely candidate for the final.
Mendes and Beard each logged over 50 pitches in a recent contest against Coastal Carolina, while Knier has accumulated 102 pitches across two regional games, raising questions about arm fatigue.
Fresh options such as Payton Manca, Cole Stokes, Kevin Mebil, Cade O’Leary and Gabe Nard remain available, though Manca’s potential start would be limited by a pitch‑count ceiling.
Strategic Considerations for the St. John’s Matchup
Coach Link Jarrett and pitching coach Micah Posey are now faced with a strategic dilemma, weighing the health of their staff against the need to field a competitive starter for the St. John’s showdown.