Florida State's players and coaches weren't necessarily rooting for rival Miami to be left out of the 2017 NCAA Baseball Championship tournament.
Still, the Seminoles couldn't help but let out a cheer when the final team in the field of 64 was announced Monday afternoon, and it was not the Hurricanes. That omission officially ended UM's streak of NCAA tournament appearances at 44 and gave Florida State the longest active streak in the country.
FSU, which is the No. 1 seed in the Tallahassee Regional, has not missed the postseason in 40 years.
"That speaks to Mike Martin and what he's done here," sophomore pitcher Tyler Holton said. "This program ... whenever you come to Florida State or you hear about Florida State and their baseball program, you know it's a great program. They've proved it, obviously, for decades. It's crazy to think about.
"And it's an honor to play and wear this uniform. And everyone in here would say the same thing."
There was a point earlier this season when it appeared FSU's tournament streak might also be in jeopardy.
After dropping a series opener at home to Clemson in mid-April, the Seminoles fell to 21-15 on the season. It was their fourth consecutive loss -- and eighth in 11 games -- and they had fallen out of the national rankings one week earlier.
Not only that, but they were expected to be underdogs in just about every remaining Atlantic Coast Conference series.
But instead of folding, the Seminoles started playing some of their best baseball of the season. They won 18 of their next 23 games, including a 4-0 effort in last week's ACC Tournament, and are now 39-20 on the year.
This week, when they play host to No. 2 seed UCF, No. 3 seed Auburn and No. 4 seed Tennessee Tech, the 'Noles will be hosting their seventh consecutive Regional tournament.
"It certainly is an accomplishment for our players," Martin said of the 40 straight regionals. "And it certainly makes me, as a Seminole, very proud."
FSU will open tournament play Friday at 6 p.m. against Tennessee Tech. UCF and Auburn will play earlier that day at noon.
Martin said he hasn't yet decided on his pitching rotation for the tournament.
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