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USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
FSU baseball vs. Mississippi State: Live coverage of the Tallahassee Regional Final
FSU baseball vs. Mississippi State: Live coverage of the Tallahassee Regional Final The FSU Seminoles are playing the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the Tallahassee Regional Final on Sunday. The Seminoles need just one win to punch their ticket to the Super Regionals, while the Bulldogs have to win twice. Mississippi State beat Northeastern 3-2 in the first game of Sunday. The Bulldogs finished with 13 hits but hit just .167 (2-12) with runners in scoring position to strand 11 runners on base and keep the game within reach. The Seminoles beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs 10-3 on Sunday at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. It was a complete performance from FSU, which got a great start from Jamie Arnold and slugged three homers. Arnold, making what could be his last start at home, allowed three runs over seven innings and recorded a season-high 13 strikeouts. Drew Faurot and Myles Bailey led the offense, combining for three home runs and seven RBI. Bailey hit a grand slam for his fifth homer in four games, earning some praise from ESPN. Faurot launched two homers of his own for his third multi-homer game of the season. FSU leads the all-time series against Mississippi State 8-7, but the Bulldogs have won three of the last four meetings, all of which were in Tallahassee. Their biggest win was in 2018, when Mississippi State won the Tallahassee Regional with a three-run, walk-off homer against the Seminoles. Follow along for live updates and highlights for the game between FSU and Mississippi State. What channel is FSU vs. Mississippi State on today? Time, TV schedule Time: 6 p.m. ET 6 p.m. ET TV: TBD TBD Streaming: ESPN+ The game between the Seminoles and Bulldogs is set to start at 6 p.m. ET from Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Florda. The Seminoles are 26-7 at home this season. The pitching matchup for FSU vs Mississippi State MSU: TBD TBD FSU: TBD Neither team has announced who will start the game, but the Seminoles appear to be in a much better place. They have Wes Mendes, their normal Sunday starter, ready to go. The Bulldogs have had to play an extra game and have already used nine pitchers during the tournament. How to listen to the game between FSU and Mississippi State You can listen to every Florida State baseball game on the radio this season. All games will be carried locally in Tallahassee on WFLA 100.7 FM and if you are out of town, you can listen on the official site for Florida State athletics or through the FSU Gameday App. FSU's statistical leaders Batting Average: Alex Lodise (.404) Alex Lodise (.404) Slugging: Alex Lodise (.738) Alex Lodise (.738) Home Runs: Max Williams (18) Max Williams (18) RBI: Alex Lodise (67) Alex Lodise (67) Stolen Bases: Chase Williams (17) Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Kansas State baseball coach Pete Hughes with Lincoln Sheffield, Keegan O'Connor postgame
WATCH: Bethune-Cookman's Jonathan Hernandez, Irvin Escobar, Joel Core after loss to FSU in regional Bethune-Cookman baseball falls to FSU, 6-2, to open the Tallahassee Regional on Friday. Here's a postgame from head coach Jonathan Hernandez.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
FSU baseball vs. Mississippi State: Live coverage of the Tallahassee Regional
FSU baseball vs. Mississippi State: Live coverage of the Tallahassee Regional The FSU Seminoles are 1-0 in the Tallahassee Regional, and it is time for their second game of the tournament. The Seminoles are set to play the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. The Seminoles (39-14) beat the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 6-2 on Friday in the first game of the Tallahassee Regional. FSU got great work from its bullpen as the trio of Peyton Prescott, Chris Knier, and John Abraham pitched six shutout innings after a weather delay chased starter Joey Volini after three innings. FSU's offense showcased its power as it hit three homers in the victory, including solo shots from Chase and Max Williams to take an early lead. Myles Bailey had the biggest swing of the game, hitting a two-run shot to retake the lead and fire up the fans. It is the freshman's fourth homer in the past three games. The all-time series between FSU and Mississippi State is tied 7-7, but the Bulldogs have won the last three meetings, all of which were in Tallahassee. The Seminoles will be looking to avenge their loss in 2018, when Mississippi State won the Tallahassee Regional with a three-run, walk-off homer against them. Follow along for live updates and highlights for the game between FSU and Mississippi State. Arnold has not missed a beat after giving up a solo homer in the second and struckout the side in the third inning. He is up to seven strikeouts on the day. He has been efficient as well, with 30 of his 47 pitches going for strikes. FSU's offense was unable to take advantage of a two-out walk and an error by Mississippi State as Faurot struckout to strand two runners. The Bulldogs wasted no time answering as Noah Sullivan led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run off the scoreboard in left, making it a 2-1 FSU lead. Arnold allowed a soft one-out single but got a strikeout and groundout to end the inning. FSU's ace has four strikeouts on 31 pitches through two innings. Cal Fisher started the second inning with a ground-rule double before Drew Faurot opened the scoring with a two-run homer to right center. It was his 15th homer of the season and travelled 397 feet. Brody DeLamielleure singled off the right field fence but was stranded at second. The Seminoles got a leadoff single by Gage Harrelson in the top of the inning, but that was all as Alex Lodise struck out before Max Williams and Myles Bailey both grounded out. Jamie Arnold retired the side in the bottom of the inning, getting a flyout to center to start the game before back-to-back strikeouts. He needed just 12 pitches in the inning. What channel is FSU vs Mississippi State on today? Time, TV schedule Time: 6 p.m. ET 6 p.m. ET TV: ESPN2 ESPN2 Streaming: ESPN+ The game between the Seminoles and Bulldogs is set to start at 6 p.m. ET from Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Florda. The Seminoles are 25-7 at home this season. The pitching matchup for FSU vs Mississippi State MSU: LHP Pico Kohn (5-3, 4.13 ERA) LHP Pico Kohn (5-3, 4.13 ERA) FSU: LHP Jamie Arnold (7-2, 3.04 ERA) The Seminoles opted not to pitch ace Jamie Arnold against the No. 4 seed Bethune-Cookman, and the decision paid off as they will now get one to use of the top pitchers in the country against the Bulldogs. Mississippi State did not use one of its regular starters and is turning to Pico Kohn, who leads them in innings pitched (76.1), strikeouts (107), and opponent batting average (.220). He has given up 31 extra-base hits on the season, including 11 home runs. How to listen to the game between FSU and Mississippi State You can listen to every Florida State baseball game on the radio this season. All games will be carried locally in Tallahassee on WFLA 100.7 FM and if you are out of town, you can listen on the official site for Florida State athletics or through the FSU Gameday App. Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Gentleman Warrior' John Thrasher dead at 81
Former Florida State University President and House Speaker John Thrasher, whose career in politics and public service spanned more than three decades, died Friday after a battle with cancer, his family announced. Thrasher, 81, served in the House and the Senate before being tapped in 2014 as president of FSU, where he had earned his bachelor's and law degrees. During his tenure in the Legislature, Thrasher, a Republican, was a close ally of former Gov. Jeb Bush and helped carry out Bush's overhaul of the state's education system that included a controversial school-grading system and rigorous testing of student performance. 'I am heartbroken. John was one of my best friends in life. I loved the guy. I am praying hard for the wonderful Jean and his children and grandchildren,' Bush said in an email Friday morning to The News Service of Florida, referring to Thrasher's wife of 60 years, Jean. Thrasher, with Bush's backing, was elected to lead the Republican Party of Florida in 2010 after its former chairman, Jim Greer, was forced out amid a probe into the party's finances. Thrasher became speaker in 1998, the same year Bush was first elected — and as Republicans cemented what remains a dominance of state government. Thrasher died Friday morning in Orlando surrounded by his family, according to a statement released by spokeswoman Sarah Bascom. 'The family would like to thank everyone for their well wishes, visits and prayers during the last month and express their deep gratitude for the doctors and nurses who cared for him at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center, Orlando Health and Cornerstone Hospice,' the statement said. In addition to his wife, Thrasher is survived by daughter Jennifer Jordan and her husband, Don; son Jon Thrasher and his wife Millie; and daughter Julie Weinberg and her husband Mark. He also was a 'proud and devoted grandfather' to eight grandchildren, Bascom said in an email. Accolades for Thrasher, who represented parts of Northeast Florida in the Legislature and was fiercely devoted to FSU, poured in after the announcement of his death. Thrasher's bid to become FSU president initially drew some opposition, in part, because of his lack of an academic background. But Thrasher, who as a lawmaker took numerous steps to support the university, such as helping start its medical school, became a widely respected president. Thrasher's presidency, which lasted until 2021, 'marked a period of historic momentum for the university,' according to FSU President Richard McCullough. 'As an alumnus, legislator, trustee and president, he devoted his life to elevating FSU's national reputation and helping the university reach new heights in student success, academic excellence and research,' McCullough said in a statement. 'Jai (McCullough's wife) and I feel incredibly fortunate and blessed to have known him and will always cherish the time we spent together at university events, out on the golf course or sharing a meal. John had a remarkable ability to bring people together with his warmth, humor and unmistakable charm.' Thrasher was 'one of the greatest men I've ever known,' Gus Corbella, a lobbyist who served as director of the House Majority Office during Thrasher's two-year term as speaker, told the News Service in a text. 'He was a mentor to me more than just in public service, but also as a shining example of what a man of integrity, courage and conviction can be in this often challenging world. He was a gentleman of the highest order worthy of every respect accorded to him,' Corbella said. Kathy Mears, who has held a series of high-level staff positions in the Legislature and state government and served as Thrasher's government-relations director at FSU, offered similar praise. 'No words can adequately capture the deserved honor Florida owes to John Thrasher,' Mears said. 'He was a gentleman warrior. He led with quiet strength and firm resolve. He did so much good for so many — as a lawmaker, as a leader, as a mentor, but most of all as a friend.' Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis also praised Thrasher, who served in Vietnam and was elected to the state House in 1992 from Clay County. After a time out of the Legislature following his term as speaker, Thrasher joined the Senate by winning a special election to succeed the late Jim King, R-Jacksonville, in 2009. 'John was a decorated combat veteran, served the state well as both Speaker of the House and as a Florida senator, and provided great leadership as the president of his alma mater, Florida State University. John lived a remarkable life — and he made a big difference in the lives of so many in our state. We send our condolences to Jean and the entire Thrasher family,' the governor said in a post on X. Thrasher 'made a huge impact' on the state GOP 'from his time in public office to his willingness to step in and chair the party during a difficult time,' Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power said in an X post. 'Florida is better for his service,' added Power, calling Thrasher 'a legend.' Senate President Ben Albritton also lauded Thrasher, who after leaving the House helped found The Southern Group, one of the capital city's most influential lobbying firms. 'Integrity, perseverance, and strength propelled John to success at every level of public service and private industry. His life was rooted in devotion to public service, patriotism, a love of the law, and a passion for education. From the battlefields of Vietnam where he returned as a highly decorated officer, to years of honorable service as speaker of the House, Rules (Committee) chair of the Senate and president of Florida State University, John was regarded by all as a strong, fair leader with unquestionable judgment, timeless principles of honor, and a gentleman all the way through,' Albritton said. The family will hold a private burial for Thrasher in Orange Park. A celebration of life is scheduled on Aug. 19 at Florida State University's Ruby Diamond Concert Hall in Tallahassee. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tallahassee mourns retired FSU president John Thrasher, recalls him as listener, unifier
The hallmark of John Thrasher's 30-plus years in Tallahassee is that a town built on hard-knuckle politics holds much warmth and admiration for a former leader of the state's Republican Party who went on to become a beloved president of Florida State University. In a town where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2–1, contemporaries of the Republican former House Speaker and state senator extolled Thrasher's leadership skills and commitment to do what was right. He died May 30 after a battle with cancer; he was 81. 'John had a very simple agenda, to do what was right and fair,' said former state Sen. Bill Montford, a Democrat from Tallahassee. The two had similar north Florida upbringings and both were the first in their families to attend college. They sat next to each other on the Senate floor for four years, and both would continue careers in education after politics. 'It was clear that he and I had the same respect for public education and the importance it was to a better life. And John Thrasher knew there was no better avenue to helping our fellow man than education,' said Montford, CEO of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. From May 30: John Thrasher dies; was FSU president, House speaker, Florida GOP titan The word 'mentor' is frequently mentioned when current and former lawmakers are asked about Thrasher. Friends, colleagues, former employees and FSU alumni lauded him as a person of integrity, a visionary statesman in the many positions he held in Tallahassee after first being elected to the Florida House in 1992. Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee, had known Thrasher for 40 years, back to when he served on the Clay County School Board and she was a legislative aide to former Sen. Mattox S. Hair, D-Jacksonville. 'He was extraordinary in every role he took on. He took FSU to dizzying heights with research, fundraising, and the extraordinary connections he made with students and people throughout Tallahassee,' Tant said. She called Thrasher a 'leader's leader.' Mary Coburn got a close look at Thrasher's leadership skills when he was first appointed FSU president. She was the vice president for student affairs when a campus uproar erupted to try to derail Thrasher's appointment. The secret to how Thrasher won over the FSU community, Coburn said, was, 'he was a fantastic listener.' At the time of the appointment, Thrasher was chair of the powerful Senate Rules committee, the last stop for bills before the chamber floor. Thrasher supporters recruited him to help with the university's $1 billion 'Raise the Torch' fundraising campaign – he had raised more than $50 million in one year as RPOF chair. But students and faculty objected to the appointment of a president without an academic background. Coburn arranged a meeting between the incoming president and his on-campus detractors to quell what was becoming a Seminole uprising in hopes of providing "closure" for the protesters. Earlier that year, Thrasher had proposed splitting the FAMU/FSU School of Engineering into separate facilities. His opponents even used the aborted proposal to question whether he was prejudiced and his appointment a Trojan horse for an attempt to 'corporatize' education. 'There was a lot going against him as someone who had held so many political offices. They hurled some really vicious stuff at him,' Bob Holladay, a Tallahassee State College history professor, said about the meeting. For more than an hour, Thrasher sat, listened, and took notes on why people thought he was not qualified. 'He didn't try to argue ... He didn't say why he disagreed with them, that he wasn't the person they said he was. He just was a sounding board for them, and I think that really sort of put an end' to the opposition, Coburn said. Coburn served five FSU presidents as an associate dean or VP, including two others who were former lawmakers: Sandy D'Alemberte and T.K. Wetherell. She said Thrasher had a unique willingness to engage with others in sincere discussion: 'I never had a president who was so willing to listen and sort of change their point of view based on hearing other people's point of view. Very willing. I witnessed him over and over again modifying his point of view based on feedback.' The ability to really hear what others were saying served Thrasher well in overcoming a series of challenges he faced in the early years of his administration. In addition to the initial opposition, there was a shooting at Strozier Library, a fraternity-related hazing death, diversity and inclusion issues tied to the city and university's racial history, and the goal of FSU achieving status as a preeminent research institution. Caught in a web of circumstances, Montford said Thrasher responded like a boat captain in troubled waters, fixed on a lighthouse beacon to safely reach the shore. 'John stepped up, took care of the students and faculty, and, as always, he followed his guiding light – to do what was right and fair. If more of us would do that, this country, this state, would be better off,' Montford said. Thrasher broke with an effort by members of the political party he once headed by opposing a push to allow guns on campuses. He condemned conduct by members of FSU's lauded football team and championed better ways to support victims of sexual violence. Thrasher assembled a team of academics that elevated FSU's academic reputation to a Top 20 Public University ranking. And he secured an unprecedented gift of $100 million from the family of businessman Jim Moran to create a college devoted to entrepreneurialism. Coburn said after people got to know Thrasher, she could not go anywhere with him without students, parents, alumni, and others stopping to ask to take a photo with the FSU leader. 'Those are my really pleasant memories about John ... It was wonderful bringing him to student events because of (how they) responded to him. He loved students, was really compassionate and cared about them and how they were doing ... He just had a warmth about him that made people want to be with him,' Coburn said. While Thrasher is best known locally as a president of Florida State University, the campus is but a mile from the state Capitol where he built a legacy as a friend and confidant, a power broker who nonetheless was always willing to help. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a former Republican Senate President, called Thrasher the "Lion of the Senate' and a mentor. Senate President Ben Albritton released a lengthy statement recounting Thrasher's love and devotion to his spouse Jean and their children and grandchildren. He said Thrasher's record of public service was a statement of 'integrity, perseverance and strength.' And Albritton recounted how Thrasher always exhibited timeless principles of honor and acted as a gentleman while his life took him through the battlefields of Vietnam, the local politics of Clay County, committee rooms in the Florida House and Senate, and the campus of Florida State. 'His life was rooted in devotion to public service, patriotism, a love of the law, and passion for education,' Albritton wrote in a memo to the Senate. Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, said he was struck by Thrasher's patriotism and commitment to public service when Thrasher invited Jones to stop by FSU after Jones was elected to the Senate in 2020. He, as Thrasher had done a decade before, was moving from the Florida House to the Senate. 'He shared advice I'll never forget,' Jones said. ' 'The Senate is where the grownups sit and negotiate – so be one of the grownups in the room and go do good' ... He was a true statesman and a good man,' Jones said. In an exit interview with the Tallahassee Democrat after retiring from FSU, Thrasher said he was raised in what he called 'pretty poor' circumstances. He was the first person in his family to graduate from high school and the first to go to college. 'Education comes to me as an extraordinarily important thing," he said in a discussion of his legacy. "When a student comes to Florida State University, my job is to make sure they get the best chance they can to achieve their hopes and dreams and go out and make a difference in the world." A private burial is planned in Orange Park, with a celebration of life to be held at Florida State University's Ruby Diamond Concert Hall in Tallahassee on Aug. 19. Details will be forthcoming. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@ and is on X as @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 'A good man': John Thrasher remembered as FSU leader, statesman
