Live Blog: Arkansas at Florida State Super Regional baseball

After a day of over six hours of weather delays, the Arkansas Razorbacks and Florida State Seminoles should enjoy a delay free game.

by Harold McIlvain II

Keep refreshing for live updates from the second game of a three game series in Tallahassee, Fla., between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Florida State Seminoles. The Razorbacks are one win away from punching a ticket to the College World Series.

Pregame  10:44 a.m.:  Florida State will throw lefty freshman Brian Busch (6-2) while Arkansas will counter with sophomore Brett Eibner (5-4).

First inning 11:09 a.m.:  A strike out with a sharp curve from Eibner to start the game. A low fast ball gets another Seminole for a strike out. Eibner clearly has his breaking ball as he is throwing it for a strike. A third strike is called looking for a three pitch strike out. Nothing doing for Florida State.

11:16 a.m.:  Arkansas outfielder Chase Leavitt takes a first pitch for a double to start the inning. A swing and a miss at a ball in the dirt retires Ben Tschepikow. Florida State use a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning. After one, Florida State 0, Arkansas 0.

Second inning 11:23 a.m.:  A deep fly can’t quite make it to the short fences in right field for out number one. A bloop single gets Florida State its first hit with one out. The Razorbacks use a double play of their own to end the inning.

11:32 a.m.:  A single is lined hard to right field, but Florida State makes the play to start the inning. A breaking ball is lined into center field, bringing up Arkansas freshman Zach Cox. A strike out brings up Andrew Darr with two outs. A first pitch fast ball is hit the other way for a single, putting runners on first and second. A booted ball loads the bases for Arkansas. A line drive to the left side of the infield ends the inning. After two, Florida State 0, Arkansas 0.

Third inning 11:40 a.m.:  A slow roller to second base is the first out of the inning for Florida State. A grounder to short stop is the second out for Eibner, who is throwing some heat by touching 92 m.p.h in the last at bat. After falling behind 3-0, Eibner gets a swing and a miss on a breaking ball to end the side.

11:50 a.m.:  Leavitt took the ball the other way but it is caught in left field for the first out of the inning. A grounder to the mound retires another. A swing and a miss ends the inning in order. Through three, Florida State 0, Arkansas 0.

Fourth inning 12:13 p.m.:  A single starts the inning for the Seminoles. A pitch out is well timed, but the runner still takes the base on the first pitch. A slow roller to third base is an out that can’t move the runner up a base. After working a full count, Florida State gets a single to score the first run of the game. Arkansas pitching coach Dave Jorn comes out to check on Eibner, who has labored a little on the mound this inning with lengthy plate appearances. A five pitch walks puts runners on second and first with one down. A grounder back to Eibner might have been two outs, but he only gets one. A fly to center ends the inning with just the run scored.

12:23 p.m.:  A first pitch fastball is taken for a home run for Arkansas sophomore Andy Wilkins to tie the game. Another hit for Arkansas puts a runner on second base for a double with no outs. A strike out looking for Cox is the first out in the inning. Another strike out and a pop up to second ends the inning. After four, Florida State 1, Arkansas 1.

Fifth inning 12:48 p.m.:  A quick ground out for Eibner starts the inning. But he then follows that out with a hit that looped into left field. A bloop single puts runners on second and first with one down. A hit bounces off the very top of the wall, bringing in just one as they hold the runner on third. Men on second and third with T.J. Forrest getting work in the bullpen. A grounder brings in another run, 3-1 Florida State. A deep fly to center leaves the yard, putting Florida State atop 5-1. Eibner looked to get out of the inning with a ground out. But for some reason time was called by the first base umpire. And with the out not counting, Florida State draws a walk to extend the inning.  Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn comes to the mound and Forrest will be coming into the game. A deep fly is caught to end the big inning for Florida State.

12:59 p.m.:  After allowing a walk to start the inning, the Florida State bullpen is starting to get some action with Leavitt at the plate. Busch gets his sixth strike out of the game after falling behind 3-0 to start the count. Another strike out for Florida State, but the Hogs take second base with two down. A loop into foul ground is caught to end the frame. After five, Arkansas 1, Florida State 5

Sixth inning 1:03 p.m.:  Another bloop is caught in foul ground for a one-pitch out for Forrest. A fast ball is blown by the hitter for the second out of the inning. A fly to right is another out. A quick one, two, three inning for the Razorbacks.

1:08 p.m.:  A fly out for Wilkins is the first out. Busch gets his eighth strike out of the afternoon with a swing and a miss. Another fly out puts six straight Hogs down in a row. After six, Arkansas 1, Florida State 5.

Seventh inning 1:15 p.m.:  Another one-pitch out for Forrest retires five straight Florida State batters. A two-pitch out is fielded by Cox at third to retire two. A fly in foul ground has Cox falling on top of catcher James McCann, but the out is recorded.

1:45 p.m.:  Darr put a charge in a ball and with the wind it left the yard. Home run for Arkansas brings a new pitcher to the mound for the Seminoles. McCann draws a walk from the new pitcher with no outs in the frame. A grounder to the pitch records an out at second. But that’s all they get. A runner is still on first with now one down. Leavitt draws a walk, putting the tying runner at the plate. Another pitching change for the Seminoles.

With the bases loaded, Scott Lyons hits one hard to third that turns into an error, scoring two runs for Arkansas. The Hogs are now within one with one down, runner on the corners. A grounder can’t bring the runner home, but that’s all they get. Two outs and runners on second and third for freshman Bo Bigham. But a new pitcher is coming in for Florida State. Arkansas takes the lead with a Bigham hit, 6-5. Cox ends the inning. But Arkansas comes from behind after being down 5-1. After seven innings, Arkansas 6, Florida State 5.

Eighth inning 2:05 p.m.:  A short fly ball to center field gets the first out of the inning for Forrest. But that will be the last out for him. Van Horn is putting in a rested closer in Stephen Richards. What an performance from Forrest, who came in and shutdown Florida State and allowed the bats of Arkansas to get back into the game. A full count pitch is taken to left for the second out this inning. But Richards allows a two-out walk. After a balk moved the runner to second, Richards strikes out the batter looking to end the inning. Arkansas is three outs away from going to the College World Series for the first time since 2004.

2:26 p.m.:  A ball is lined down the third base line for a lead off double for Andrew Darr. A grounder moves Darr over to third. Arkansas gets another base runner with a walk. Another pitching change for Florida State. Another walk for Arkansas puts a runner at every base. Another walk brings a runner home. Arkansas is up by two with another pitching change.  A double play gets Florida State out of the inning. But Arkansas has done its damage by adding another run. After eight, Arkansas 7, Florida State 5.

Ninth inning 2:49 p.m.:  With three outs left to get for a College World Series appearance, Richards gets a fly out to center. But Florida State gets a runner in the form of a walk. A nasty outside slider gets a strike out. One out away from winning this Super Regional. A double by Florida State puts the tying run on second base. With Florida State being down to one strike, Richards watches a double tie the game at seven runs. A walk puts runners on first and second with two out. Richards is over 50 pitches now.  Florida State takes a 8-7 lead with a single. The Razorbacks finally get the out they needed to get out of the inning.

2:54 p.m.:  Wilkins hits a towering fly ball to second base for the first out. Bigham gets on for Arkansas with a walk. A smash hit to the right side of the infield is good for a single from Cox, who moves the runner to second base with still one out. Darr comes up big and wins the game with a double. Arkansas wins 9-8 and is going to the College World Series.