A two‑hour rain delay gave way to a humid evening at Dick Howser Stadium, where the first pitch finally arrived under flickering lights. The atmosphere was electric, but the Seminoles entered the game with a perfect record when leading after seven innings.
A Late Surge in Tallahassee
Florida State struck first, with solo homers from John Stuetzer and Gabe Fraser in the opening two innings, followed by a timely RBI single from Bryson Dowd that stretched the lead to 3‑1. Bryson Moore opened on the mound, delivering five innings of six strikeouts while allowing just two runs.
The tide turned in the eighth when St. John's loaded the bases, only to see FSU escape with two quick outs. However, John Abraham, making his first appearance since May 8, issued two wild pitches and a passed ball that opened the door for a four‑run burst, tying the game before the visitors seized the lead.
Dylan Fitzsimmons led off the ninth with a single and later scored the decisive run, and Jayder Raifstanger's up‑the‑middle hit drove him home, sealing a 6‑5 victory. The collapse was underscored by a dropped fly ball that had briefly put FSU ahead 5‑2, but the late‑inning errors proved costly.
The loss drops the Seminoles into the losers' bracket, where they will meet another opponent on Saturday, while St. John's rides the momentum into the winners' bracket. Both programs now look to build on the lessons learned from a game that hinged on a handful of wild pitches and a timely hit.