Florida State hitters taking aim at Sun Devils
Posted: Thursday May 28, 1998 07:53 PM
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Florida State enters the College World Series as an offensive dynamo. Coach Mike Martin said Thursday he hopes the Seminoles bottled the potion that helped them average 19 runs a game last week.
Florida State (53-18), unbeaten in four home games to win last week's Atlantic II regional, is seeded No. 3 for College World Series that begins Friday. The Seminoles open against No. 6 Arizona State (38-22).
The late contest has No. 2 Miami (50-10) against No. 7 Long Beach State (41-21-1).
Like each school that advanced to Omaha, Florida State found an offensive groove at the right time of the season.
Leading the way is freshman outfielder Matt Diaz, who went 15-for-20 with five doubles, seven home runs and 19 RBIs in the four regional games. He made headlines with four homers in a 23-2 victory over Oklahoma.
"For him to do what he has done is amazing," Martin said. "Fifteen-for-20 in a four-game spurt? It's hard for me to even say it. There's no question that he was quite a role player last week."
Outfielder Brian Cox has a 23-game hitting streak and 18 homers. With Diaz (21 home runs) and catcher Jeremy Salazar (17), the Seminoles had three players hit at least 17 homers for the first time since 1982.
"I'd like them to miss the bus," Arizona State coach Pat Murphy said. "I know they're always going to be a well coached club, and the way they're hitting right now is a bonus for them."
Compounding the challenge for the Sun Devils, their staff ace isn't available. Ryan Mills (7-3, 4.32 ERA) threw Monday in the Midwest regional final, so Phill Lowery (8-6, 4.98) will start.
"I wasn't going to bring him back too early," Murphy said.
Seven of the eight regionals were decided on Sunday, but Arizona State's game against Georgia Tech in Wichita, Kan., was postponed that evening by a tornado warning.
Wes Crawford (9-3, 3.04) will start for the Seminoles.
Miami has found a comfort zone at Rosenblatt Stadium, where the Hurricanes are playing for the fifth straight year. Coach Jim Morris said he thinks the familiarity will pay dividends.
"The more you come here, the more comfortable you become," he said. "I think that's going to help us do what we need to do to get ready."
Still, Morris said his team got excited Thursday over the sight of stadium from the team bus. After coming over a hill, cheers broke out as the field came into view.
"It was a real nice feeling to see the stadium again. I'm sure it's always a real big thrill for the younger guys," said junior first baseman Aubrey Huff, who enters the series hitting .414.
While the Hurricanes have become an Omaha fixture, Long Beach State is making its fourth trip overall and first since 1993. Long Beach coach Dave Snow said he has no motivational tricks to make up the experience difference.
"Our guys don't respond to that," Snow said. "I've got to get real mean with them. I'll tell them if they don't play with the right level of intensity, it won't matter what seed we are."
The 49ers' batting leader is Big West player of the year Paul Day, who comes into the series hitting .404 with 15 home runs. But Miami counters with Pat Burrell, a top pro prospect who is hitting .431 with 16 homers after missing most of the season with a back injury.
Mike Gallo (6-1, 3.25) will throw for Long Beach against Miami ace Alex Santos (14-1, 2.74).
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