Florida State in College World Series elimination game Monday

OMAHA – Florida State will be playing at 2 p.m. Monday in the NCAA College World Series elimination game after a pair of unearned runs in the eighth inning Saturday gave Louisiana State an advantage FSU couldn’t overcome.

FSU (45-22) was up 4-3 going into LSU’s half of the eighth, but ended up losing 5-4 to the 49-17 Tigers.

Tyler Holton (10-3) was the hard-luck loser for the Seminoles. He allowed five runs (three were earned) and struck out five in 7.1 innings.

Jared Poche’ (11-3) earned the win in his first relief appearance of the season, allowing just two hits in 2.2 innings. LSU’s starter, Alex Lange, a first round selection in the MLB draft earlier last week, allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings, striking out eight and walking four.

“Sometimes you just have to admit the fact that the other club did a very, very good job,” Seminoles coach Mike Martin said after the game. “So obviously we’re disappointed, but there’s one thing that we all in this room know: We’re not eliminated. So we will play again Monday, and hopefully play a little better.”

FSU took a 4-3 lead to the eighth inning with Holton still on the mound to start the inning. A one-out single off Holton’s glove from Freeman was followed by a single to right field from Antoine Duplantis. Steven Wells had two errors on the play, one by letting the ball roll past him in right field and a second on the throw to the infield that allowed Freeman to score.

Dylan Busby, who smacked his 15th home run of the season in the first, picked up the loose ball and threw to get Freeman at the plate, but Raleigh dropped the throw and Duplantis reached to third base with the score tied.

Holton was pulled for Alec Byrd, who allowed a Greg Deichmann single through the right side that gave its first lead of the game at 5-4. Drew Carlton came in and retired both hitters he faced to limit the inning.

FSU got two runners on in the ninth, but couldn’t push either over before Busby struck out to end the game.

Florida State will play Cal State Fullerton on Monday. The Titans lost in similar fashion earlier Saturday, dropping a 6-5 game to top-seed Oregon State after leading 5-1 through five innings.