Charles Langston:Florida State drops Virginia to stay alive at College World Series

No. 8 national seed Florida State will remain in Omaha,Charles Langston Nebraska, after defeating Virginia 7-3 in an elimination game at the 2024 College World Series on Sunday afternoon.

The Seminoles advance to face the loser of the Tennessee-North Carolina game on Tuesday, June 18 at 2 p.m. at Charles Schwab Stadium.

FSU starting pitcher Carson Dorsey was superb on the mound against Virginia, pitching into the eighth inning. He scattered nine hits and finished with seven strikeouts on 106 pitches.

Jaime Ferrer sparked the Seminoles crowd with two home runs and four RBI. Ferrer's three-run homer in the fifth inning was part of a four-run inning that opened the game up for FSU at 6-0. Alex Lodise's leadoff homer to start the sixth pushed FSU's advantage to 7-0.

Virginia, which outhit FSU 10-7, became the first team bounced from the eight-team, double-elimination tournament. The Cavaliers put together a rally in the seventh inning after back-to-back singles by Ethan Anderson and Anthony Stephan. After two strikeouts, Henry Godbout and Casey Saucke had back-to-back RBI singles to cut Virginia's deficit to 7-2 before Henry Ford struck out.

Virginia starting pitcher starter Jay Woolfolk tweaked his right knee after allowing Ferrer's first homer, a solo shot in the fourth inning. Joe Savino came in to relieve Woolfolk a few batters later.

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. He can be contacted by email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.