The Florida State Seminoles opened the 2012 NCAA Baseball Tournament with a narrow 2-1 win over UAB at home in Dick Howser Stadium. After the Blazers tied things up at 1-1 in the top of the 5th, FSU answered quickly to jump out in front by a run, a lead they would not relinquish thanks to the fabulous work of the bullpen. Gage Smith got the win, going 3.2 innings out of the pen and allowing just three hits during a scoreless appearance. Robert Benincasa came on in the ninth and slammed the door to convert the save and the opening win at regionals.
UAB starter Michael Busby was fantastic, but FSU managed to manufacture just enough. The No. 3 hitter James Ramsey came through in the clutch for the 'Noles, knocking in each run. He put FSU ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the third when he singled home Sherman Johnson with a ball through the right side on an 0-2 offering from Busby. Johnson scored again in the fifth after drawing another walk, and Ramsey was there to double him home for the game-winning run.
FSU will now face Samford on Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET.
For updates on the NCAA regionals, keep checking this StoryStream from SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Seminoles baseball program, visit Tomahawk Nation.