Tallahassee Regional Final: Florida State Faces Must-Win Scenario Against St. John’s

The path to the Super Regionals for the Florida State Seminoles has become a high-stakes challenge. After a grueling weekend of baseball at Dick Howser Stadium, the No. 10-seeded Seminoles find themselves in a position where they must defeat St. John’s twice to advance out of the Tallahassee Regional.

The Road to the Final

Florida State (40-18) enters today’s matchup following a resilient performance on Sunday. After dropping their opening game to the Red Storm 6-5 on Friday, the Seminoles were relegated to the losers’ bracket, forcing a difficult climb back. They successfully navigated that path by defeating Coastal Carolina 2-1 and outlasting Northern Illinois 7-4 in a 10-inning thriller.

The Seminoles’ pitching staff proved pivotal in Sunday’s victories. Against Northern Illinois, the trio of Cooper Whited, Chris Knier, and Brodie Purcell combined for 15 strikeouts while allowing only six hits and three walks over 10 innings. Purcell was particularly effective, closing out the game without allowing a run to secure the win. Earlier in the day, Trey Beard provided a dominant four-inning shutout performance against Coastal Carolina.

Offensively, the Seminoles broke through in the 10th inning against Northern Illinois. Ben Barrett provided the decisive blow with a two-run home run, marking his second homer of the season and helping the team secure necessary insurance runs.

St. John’s Momentum

St. John’s (35-24) enters the final with an unblemished 2-0 record in the regional. Beyond their opening victory over Florida State, the Red Storm secured a 21-8 win against Northern Illinois, overcoming a 3-0 deficit in the process. This appearance marks the program’s first regional final since 2015, as they look to reach a Super Regional for only the second time in school history.

The all-time series between the two programs is currently knotted at 2-2.

Key Takeaways for Fans

• Must-Win Situation: Florida State must win both games today to claim the regional title; St. John’s needs only one victory to advance.
• Pitching Depth: FSU’s bullpen has been heavily utilized, with strong recent outings from Beard, Purcell, Knier, and Whited.
• Offensive Outlook: While the Seminoles have struggled to capitalize on scoring chances throughout the weekend, the late-game power displayed against Northern Illinois provides a much-needed morale boost.

How to Watch

Fans can follow the action as Florida State and St. John’s meet at Dick Howser Stadium. The game is available for streaming on ESPN+.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if Florida State wins the first game?
Because St. John’s is undefeated in the regional, a Florida State win in the first game would force a “winner-take-all” second game to decide which team advances to the Super Regionals.

How did FSU reach the final?
After losing their opening game to St. John’s, the Seminoles defeated Coastal Carolina and Northern Illinois on Sunday to stay alive in the tournament.

Where is the regional being played?
The Tallahassee Regional is being hosted at Dick Howser Stadium.