The No. 10-seeded Florida State Seminoles and Northern Illinois Huskies will play an elimination game on Sunday at Dick Howser Stadium in the Tallahassee Regional. The winner will advance to the regional final on Monday, where they will need to beat St. John’s twice.
FSU (39-18) beat Coastal Carolina 2-1 to start the day. The game started on Saturday but was delayed until Sunday after multiple rain delays. Cal Fisher was the difference for the Seminoles, going 2-3 with a go-ahead solo home run in the fifth inning.
Trey Beard was sensational for the Seminoles over the final four innings. He walked the first batter he saw, before retiring the next 10 batters. He struckout nine of the 14 batters he faced, stranding two runners. It was his first save of the season and allowed FSU to only use one pitcher, even if their options are limited moving forward.
Watch FSU vs Northern Illinois on ESPN+
Northern Illinois (36-18) lost to St. John’s 21-8 in their first game of the day on Sunday. They opened the regional with a 12-10 win over Coastal Carolina on Friday.
FSU leads the all-time series 1-0 against Northern Illinois. The Seminoles won 7-1 back in 1971, and this is their first-ever meeting in the postseason.
Florida State tied the game in the eighth, but that was all as Gabe Fraser grounded out to strand Chase Williams at third as the go-ahead run. FSU has stranded six runners, going 2-10 with runners in scoring position
The Seminoles have tied the game, with Nathan Cmeyla doubling home Hunter Carns with one out in the top of the eighth inning. Chase Williams has replaced him at second, giving FSU elite speed with a chance to retake the lead.
The Huskies are making a pitching change, going to Danny Cihocki, leading 4-3 in the top of the eighth inning. He pitched on Friday, throwing 67 pitches.
Brodie Purcell was able to get the job done for FSU, retiring the first batter he faced in the seventh to strand the bases loaded. The Seminoles have six outs to score at least one run to extend their season.
The Seminoles are turning to Brodie Purcell with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, trailing 4-3. Chris Knier allowed one run in 3.1 innings with five strikeouts and is responsible for the three runners.
Northern Illinois made FSU pay for their two errors in the bottom of the seventh, taking the lead on a bases-loaded walk by Cole Smith. Ben Barrett snagged a liner and doubled the runner off first to have FSU on the verge of escaping the inning, but Chris Knier hit the next batter to load the bases before Smith gave NIU the lead.
FSU’s defense has fallen apart in the seventh inning, allowing Northern Illinois to load the bases with no outs and the game tied 3-3. A ground ball that should have been a double-play turned into no outs when Gabe Fraser’s throw pulled Carter McCulley off the base at second. Chris Knier was then unable to field a sacrifice bunt attempt, letting the bases get loaded with just one hit and two errors.
FSU hit into an inning-ending double play in the seventh inning when John Stuetzer stole second on a pitch that Brayden Dowd popped up to the first baseman. Stuetzer crossed second and did not touch it on his way back, allowing Northern Illinois to double him off.
FSU’s Chris Knier has been sensational against Northern Illinois and struckout the side in the sixth inning. He has a career-high five in the game and has only allowed one batter to reach in 2.2 innings, which happened when Brayden Dowd could not see a ball in the lights.
Florida State’s struggles with runners on have continued late into this game. Ben Barrett got a two-out double, and Gabe Fraser was hit to put two runners on for Carter McCulley. He was unable to deliver, striking out looking to end the inning. FSU is 3-12 with runners on and has left five runners on base.
Chris Knier retired the side in the fifth, using two strikeouts and a groundout to keep the game tied 3-3 through five innings. He has allowed one hit in 1.2 innings of work on 28 pitches.
FSU got a two-out hit from Brayden Dowd in the fifth, but they stranded him at first with a groundout. The Seminoles have not scored since the second, and are 3-11 with runners on and 2-7 with runners in scoring position.
FSU’s Brayden Dowd redeemed himself to end the fourth inning. After he never saw a ball in the lights and allowed a runner to reach with a single, he made a great diving play to catch a liner and double the runner off second to end the inning.
Chris Knier has entered the game for FSU with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning and a runner on first for Northern Illinois in a 3-3 game. Cooper Whited allowed three runs (two earned) to start the game on three hits for the Seminoles. He threw a season-high 67 pitches. Knier threw 38 pitches on Friday.
FSU’s bullpen is beginning to warm up in the bottom of the fourth inning, with reliever Chris Knier getting ready to enter the game. He threw 38 pitches on Friday and can normally provide several innings of relief for the Seminoles. Cooper Whited has allowed just three hits, but two have been home runs, and he has thrown a season-high in pitches already.
FSU can not stop Gavin Baldwin, who has hit his second homer of the game to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth with no outs in the inning. He has two of their three hits.
FSU got a one-out walk from Gabe Fraser, but the inning ended with a double-play as Carter McCulley struck out swinging and Fraser was thrown out trying to steal.
Cooper Whited needed a quick inning, and he got that in the bottom of the third. He retired Northern Illinois in order on 13 pitches. He has three strikeouts so far and has allowed two unearned runs, throwing 63 pitches.
FSU was unable to get a baserunner in the top of the third, the first time either team failed to reach base in an inning. Nathan Cmeyla hit a liner off the pitcher, but the shortstop was able to catch the ricochet and get him at first. The pitcher did not appear to be bothered by the liner.
Cooper Whited was able to keep Northern Illinois off the scoreboard in the second, getting a groundout to end the inning and strand a runner. Outside of the error by Gabe Fraser in the first inning, FSU’s defense has been excellent so far. Ben Barrett made a great catch to complete a double-play when Carter McCulley gave him a poor throw.
Whited has thrown 50 pitches in two innings, giving up two unearned runs on two hits, a hit by pitch, and an error.
FSU is once again up after scoring two runs in the top of the second inning. FSU’s at-bats have looked much better to start this game, and it took a great play by NIU to end the inning.
Florida State has retaken the lead in the top of the second, with John Stuetzer driving in Gabe Fraser with a two-out single. Stuetzer has two hits in the game already.
The Seminoles have tied the game as the bottom of the lineup started the second inning hot. Ben Barrett and Gabe Fraser singled before Carter McCuley drove in Barrett with a groundout from third.
FSU’s Cooper Whited was able to respond after the home run, striking out the next batter to end the inning. Both runs are unearned after a Gabe Fraser error.
Cooper Whited was unable to protect FSU’s early lead, giving up a two-run homer in the bottom of the first with two outs and a two-strike count. FSU should have been out of the inning before Gavin Baldwin reached, but Gabe Fraser made an error with one out on a grounder and allowed a runner to reach.
FSU was unable to put up a crooked number in the first as Nathan Cmeyla grounded out in the first inning, stranding Brody DeLamielleure. The Seminoles have a 1-0 lead after doubles by DeLamielleure and John Stuetzer. The Seminoles are 3-22 with runners in scoring position in the regional
The Seminoles have come out hot, with John Stuetzer hitting a leadoff double before getting to third on a groundout by Brayden Dowd. Brody DeLamielleur did the rest, doubling home Stuetzer.
Northern Illinois starter Carter Cox has thrown a ball against FSU leadoff hitter John Stuetzer, and the elimination game is underway. Cox threw 31 pitches against Coastal Carolina on Friday and has a 5/59 ERA in 75.2 innings this season.
The Seminoles are turning to Cooper Whited with their season on the line. The lefty has started nine games this season, recording a 3.57 ERA in 35.1 innings pitched. His longest start of the season is 4.1 innings, with him pitching 4.0 or more innings three times.
- LF John Stuetzer
- CF Brayden Dowd
- RF Brody DeLamielleure
- C Hunter Carns
- DH Nathan Cmeyla
- 1B Ben Barrett
- SS Gabe Fraser
- 2B Carter McCulley
- 3B Cal Fisher
- SP Cooper Whited
Despite hosting the regional, the FSU Seminoles will be the road team in their game against the Northern Illinois Huskies on Sunday. FSU has hosted both of its games, while Northern Illinois has just one time.
What channel is FSU baseball vs Northern Illinois on today?
- TV Channel: None
- Streaming: ESPN+
The game between FSU and Northern Illinois will not be broadcast nationally, but it will be streamed live on ESPN+. Daron Vaught and Devon Travis will call the game from the booth at Dick Howser Stadium.
FSU baseball vs Northern Illinois time today
- Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
- Location: Tallahassee, Florida
The game between FSU and Northern Illinois is set to start at 7:10 p.m. ET. The Seminoles are 28-5 at home this season, with Northern Illinois going 19-13 on the road.
FSU vs Northern Illinois pitching matchup
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