BCSP VII-42: Southern, B-CC swept out of College World Series

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (5/25/01) - The NCAA regional tournament game between Florida State and Bethune-Cookman looked like a mismatch at first.

The host Seminoles had been nationally ranked throughout the season. Bethune-Cookman came into the game with a below-.500 record.

But for six innings Friday, Florida State and Bethune-Cookman were deadlocked in a battle between their starting pitchers.

However, Florida State would break open the game, scoring seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings to win, 8-1, and move into a second-round game Saturday against Auburn.

"Unfortunately, we don't play seven innings here," said BCC coach Mervyl Melendez. "It was the same story last year. We played well until the 7th inning and things got out of hand and the game got away from us. We can't make mistakes against a team of this caliber."

The Seminoles led 1-0 after six innings but took control of the game as John-Ford Griffin and Ryan Barthelemy each drove in three runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

Griffin and Barthelemy had consecutive run-scoring doubles in the seventh, forcing the removal of Bethune-Cookman starter Cesar Montes de Oca (7-4).

They followed in the eighth with Griffin belting a two-run double and Barthelemy hitting a two-run triple.

James Carter scored Bethune-Cookman's only run in the eighth inning on a Varnes wild pitch.

Jacksonville starting pitcher Darren Truty threw a six-hit complete game to lead Jacksonville to a 3-0 win over Bethune-Cookman in the four-team double elimination tournament at Florida State.

"We came in here with one purpose to have a good showing, win some games and hopefully move on even though we knew it would be a tough task," said Bethune-Cookman coach Mervyl Melendez. "The bottom line is that we just didn't get it done offensively. We had two great pitching performances, but didn't swing the bats and that was the story in these two games."

Truty (9-5) struck out six and walked three. Chad Oliva drove in all the Dolphins' runs.

Melendez said his team blew too many chances to score. Bethune-Cookman stranded 10 runners and had two men on base in each of the last four innings. "It was more the lack of execution on our part than it was him (Truty)," he said.

"Big players step up when you need them to," said Melendez. "Seth pitched the second game for us last year too. He is a good pitcher, our #2 pitcher and he's not afraid to go after you. He is probably the only player who showed up to play for us this morning and he deserves a better outcome than he has gotten the last two years."

Tulane 22
Southern 9
NEW ORLEANS, La. - (May 25, 2001) - Top seeded Tulane exploded for 18 runs over three innings, including an 11-run seventh, en route to a 22-9 win over No. 4 seeded Southern at Turchin Stadium in the NCAA Division I New Orleans Regional on Friday.

Southern scored four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 7-4 lead, but freshman Joey Charron pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in relief to shutdown the Jaguars. Tulane then used a pair of hits and three Southern errors to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good. The Wave added three more runs in the sixth before posting 11 in the seventh to take a 22-7 lead. Southern added runs in both the eighth and the ninth, but the night belonged to Charron and Tulane.

Southern starter Jason Anderson (6-3) took the loss for the Jaguars, allowing eight runs in 4.2 innings of work.

Ole Miss pitcher Ronnie Goodwin allowed just two runs and three hits to lead the Rebels to a 10-2 win over Southern at Turchin Stadium in the New Orleans Regional on Saturday.

With the loss, Southern, seeded fourth in the New Orleans Regional, is eliminated, ending the season with a 43-12 record.

Goodwin did not allow a run, giving up just one hit, through 8.1 innings and appeared well on his way to a complete-game shutout. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Southern's Marcus Chandler struck out, but reached first on a passed ball. Franco Blackburn then hit a long fly ball to right field, which appeared to be an easy out, but Ole Miss' Josh Christian slipped, allowing Blackburn to double and Chandler to score from third. After getting Jerel Johnson to pop up for the second out, Goodwin allowed just his third hit of the game, a single by Rickie Weeks, which scored Blackburn from second.

Southern starter Eric Thomas (8-1) went four innings, but picked up his first loss of the season. He had six strikeouts, but allowed seven earned runs. He and reliever Torik Harrison combined for 10 walks.