In a thrilling and nail-biting contest, the Florida State Seminoles triumphed over the UConn Huskies in Game 2 of the Tallahassee Super Regional, thanks to an exceptional performance by ACC Player of the Year, James Tibbs III. Tibbs’ stellar performance, highlighted by three home runs, broke an 8-8 tie in the top of the 12th inning, leading Florida State (47-15) to a 10-8 victory over UConn (35-26). With this win, the Seminoles advance to the 2024 College World Series, marking their 24th appearance in program history and the first since 2019.
Tibbs’ heroic effort saw him become the first Seminole since Stephen Cardullo in 2010 to hit three home runs in a single game. His decisive third home run came on a 1-0 count after Max Williams singled to start the inning. This clutch hit not only broke the tie but also capped off Tibbs’ career-high five-hit game and tied his career-high with six RBIs.
The game began with Florida State trailing 2-0 in the third inning. However, Tibbs quickly erased the deficit with his first home run of the postseason, a two-run shot that tied the game. In the fifth inning, Tibbs struck again, launching a two-run blast to give FSU a 4-2 lead. Marco Dinges followed Tibbs’ lead with a solo home run, extending the lead to 5-2.
The back-and-forth battle continued as UConn responded with a two-run homer off Jamie Arnold in the bottom of the fifth and took the lead in the sixth inning with a three-run double. The Huskies’ Jaxson West tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth with his second home run of the season.
Florida State briefly regained the lead in the top of the ninth inning when Drew Faurot hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Jordan Williams for an 8-7 lead. However, UConn answered back with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.
On the mound, Jamie Arnold delivered a strong performance, striking out nine batters over 5.1 innings. Conner Whittaker earned the win, improving his record to 5-0 on the season. Whittaker pitched 3.2 innings, facing 12 batters, striking out three, and allowing just one hit. His third strikeout of the game sealed the victory and secured Florida State’s place in the College World Series.
James Tibbs III’s extraordinary performance will be remembered as one of the greatest in Florida State’s rich baseball history. As the Seminoles prepare for their 24th College World Series appearance, they will undoubtedly draw inspiration from Tibbs’ heroics in the Tallahassee Super Regional.
