After beating Coastal Carolina earlier in the day on Sunday, No. 10 Florida State came back on Sunday night to battle Northern Illinois. Both teams were trying to avoid elimination.

But when it counted most, Florida State (40-18) had just a little more left in the tank as the Seminoles earned a 7-4 victory to advance to the regional final vs. St. John’s on Monday. Florida State will have to win twice to advance to the super regional.

St. John’s scored 21 runs vs. Northern Illinois in their game on Sunday. It was the most runs scored by the Red Storm in 40 years, and it was the third-most runs scored in an NCAA tournament game in school history. They advance to their first regional final since 2015.

With no rest for the weary, and their best pitching arms relegated to spectators in the dugout, the bullpen arms of Cooper Whited, Chris Knier and Brodie Purcell kept the Seminoles in the game by combining for 15 strikeouts. After being down, Florida State tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh, and it stayed that way as they went to extra innings.

In the top of the 10th inning, catcher Hunter Carns hit a fly ball to center field that was deep enough to score center fielder Brayden Dowd from third base to take a 5-4 lead. Then with two outs, first baseman Ben Barrett launched a home run deep to right field to drive in two runs to give the Seminoles a 7-4 lead and the victory.

Gavin Baldwin led the Huskies with three hits, two for home runs, and three runs batted in. Overall, Northern Illinois (36-19) batted just .176 for the game, and was 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position, a testament to the Seminoles pitching staff taking control of the game from the mound. Six of the nine position players for the Huskies went 0-for-22 at the plate.

Florida State collected 11 hits in the game, five of which were of the extra-base variety consisting of three doubles by left fielder John Stuetzer, right fielder Brody DeLamielleure, and designated hitter Nathan Cmeyla, and the home run and a double by Barrett.

It will be another long day for the Seminoles on Monday, and who pitches for Florida State is anybody’s guess. But coach Link Jarrett and his Seminoles are happy to still be playing and in contention for a berth in their 20th super regional in program history, against the winner of the Tuscaloosa regional.

Date: Monday, June 1

Time: 12:00 p.m. ET

Location: Dick Howser Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida

TV: TBA

Radio: 100.7 FM WFLA

Game 7 (if necessary) at 4 p.m. ET

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