College World Series game ends in controversy

Florida State and Tennessee opened their College World Series against each other on Friday night. The game’s finish could hardly have been more exciting — or controversial.

The two teams went back and forth for much of the game. But when the Seminoles took an 11-7 lead going into the ninth inning, it seemed like they had the game well in hand. After adding another run in the ninth inning, the Volunteers cut the deficit to 11-9 and had runners on second and third. But with two outs, it looked as though Florida State’s Brennen Oxford closed the game out with a strikeout of Blake Burke. But on appeal, Burke was ruled to have checked his swing.

Two pitches later, Burke lined a single into center field to score Cannon Peebles and Christian Moore — who hit for just the second cycle in College World Series history — tying the game.

After a Billy Amick single, Florida State made a pitching change, bringing in Connor Hults to face Dylan Dreiling. Dreiling sent Hults’ 1-0 offering into the left-center field gap. The ball got down and with that, Burke came around to score the winning run.

Tennessee’s win, coupled with North Carolina’s over Virginia earlier in the day meant that for the first time in history, both of the College World Series’ first two games ended in a walk-off.

Naturally, since it could have ended the game if the call went the other way, Burke’s checked swing became a talking point. Both of the game’s analysts, Kyle Peterson and Chris Burke, were OK with the call.

Seeing the replay, Peterson said “That’s close enough to be a 50-50 ball” and that he was “Fine with the no swing.”

Burke agreed. “Live it looked like he went, but the replay was certainly anybody’s guess,” he said.

Others were less convinced.

Fortunately for the Seminoles, Friday’s loss didn’t end their championship hopes. It did make the road to a championship much tougher, though.

Florida State and Virginia will play on Sunday. The loser will be done while the winner will move on to face the loser of Tennessee’s game against North Carolina (also on Sunday) in another elimination game.

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