Video: McGee talks about his big game

The entire weekend came down to one, final pitch.

And Mike McGee got every bit of the full count offering.

McGee crushed a line drive over the short screen in centerfield for a two-run, walk-off home run that not only gave the Seminoles an 7-6 victory, but a series victory to boot.

“We were down to our final strike,” said head coach Mike Martin. “When he hit it, I did not think it was out. I thought it had a chance to hit the screen – when it went out, I have to admit, I can’t tell you how excited I was because of the way the young men fought.”

The two previous batters Tyler Holt and Stephen Cardullo, respectively, each found themselves in full counts as well. Unfortunately for Florida State, each succumbed to a swinging strike three from reliever Taylor Wulf.

Wulf and McGee again battled to a full count, this time with two outs and a potentially game-ending situation. A sense of doubt crept into the Seminole faithful in attendance, but was erased when they saw the laced ball eclipse the fence in center.

“I knew he was going to work away,” said McGee. “That’s what he has done every time I have faced him. I was looking to stay closed and get one to right field. He was hitting the corners and made it really hard for me. When he went 3-2, I was pretty sure he didn’t want to walk me. He didn’t want the tying run at second with Stuart (Tapley) coming up. I figured fastball and I knew it was going to be away so I was looking there and that pitch caught just a little bit more of the plate than the other ones. So it wasn’t the perfect pitch and I was able to get hold of it a little better than the other ones.”

Euphoria engulfed Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium as McGee’s teammates and over 4,600 in attendance were sent into raptures. With everything happening so quickly and with great excitement, McGee failed to remember what it was even like rounding the bases.

“No,” he said jokingly. “I don’t even know. I can’t even remember. It was just crazy.”

When McGee who went 2-for-4 wasn’t getting it done at the plate, he was taking care of business on the mound.

Trailing by two in the top of the eighth with one out, coach Martin elected to turn to his closer with the bases loaded. McGee trotted in from left field to take the ball from Tye Buckley not having warmed up properly.

It didn’t matter though.

McGee struck out Harold Martinez for the first out before striking out Chris Pelaez to end the Miami threat.

“Pitching is kind of a different world to me,” said McGee. “As long as I am throwing my pitches for strikes, I know I can get outs. I didn’t get to get down to the bullpen today and I actually think that might have helped. Sprinting back down there and back might have worn me out with as hot as it was.”

It was more of the same in the ninth inning as McGee set down the seven, eight, and nine hitters all in order to get the Seminoles back into the dugout with three outs to work with.

Catcher Parker Brunelle battled to also work the count full in the bottom of the ninth, but was able to get on base via the walk which ended up accounting for a vital run. After the next two strikeouts, McGee struck to put the Seminoles ahead for good.

“This series is a special series,” said Martin. “It’s always the biggest home series or away series for us because, of course, the rivalry. It was quite an afternoon, but it was certainly a game where I am very proud of our young men.”

Florida State’s victory improves the Seminoles record to 31-10 on the season and 14-7 within ACC play.

Click here for a complete boxscore

Section B Online Player of the Game:

Mike McGee
2-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR, BB
and
1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, Win