Baseball notebook: Vandy coach knows FSU well

Vanderbilt (45-18) hasn't played Florida State (45-17) in baseball since 1972. But that doesn't mean the Commodores won't have an idea of what to expect from the Seminoles or Dick Howser Stadium when the two clubs face one another in an NCAA Super Regional in Tallahassee beginning Friday with Game 1 at noon.

That's because Vanderbit coach Tim Corbin spent nine seasons as an assistant at Clemson - FSU's biggest baseball rival in the ACC until Miami joined - from 1994-2002. During that time, Corbin gained an appreciation for not only the nuances of Dick Howser with its 30-foot tall screen in right field and the Animals of Section B but also how tough it is to play there.

When Corbin was wearing purple-and-orange the Tigers went 2-10 in Tallahassee (the Tigers were 10-5 at home against the Seminoles over the same period).

"This (atmosphere) here is very, very unusual," said Corbin at Thursday's press conference. "You have everything going on in this ballpark. There are momentum swings because of the crowd. There is the Canadian national anthem being sung in the stands - (our players) haven't heard that yet.

"I told the kids this crowd is like LSU and that is a compliment in every way … you come to Florida State and you understand what you're getting into."

Corbin certainly understands who he's coaching against. Corbin is good friends with FSU coach Mike Martin and actually made a phone call to Martin seeking some advice prior to the Commodores' trip to the NCAA Regional in Louisville, Ky.

"I wanted his philosophy on pitching your No. 2 in your first game of a regional," Corbin said. "I got some information from him. I was really just looking for confirmation from a person who's done it for a long time, all the time not knowing we'd be in this position. I was hoping and had an inkling, but not really knowing, so it's kind of ironic that we're here."

Vanderbilt took a much tougher road here. While top-seeded FSU won three straight games in the Norwich, Conn., regional, the second-seeded Commodores had to play five games, including three straight elimination contests, the last two coming against host Louisville on its home field.

"We know we're looking at a club that is not going to be the least bit fazed by the atmosphere or anything else," Martin said. "They are not surprised by anything that can happen they are just a very well-coached, very disciplined baseball team."

FSU and Vandy played once before in a three-game series in Tallahassee in 1972 with the Seminoles winning two of three.

Game 1 Matters Most

How important is Game 1 of a Super Regional? When it comes to Florida State, history says it is crucial.

FSU has played in nine Super Regionals, which the NCAA began in 1999. Seven times, the Seminoles lost the first game and only once have the 'Noles managed to comeback to win - they won two straight to beat Wichita State in 2008. Center fielder Tyler Holt, left fielder Mike McGee and designated hitter Stuart Tapley were all starters on that team and junior right hander Geoff Parker started nine games that year.

It's been 10 years since the Seminoles won the first game of a Super Regional when in 2000 the 'Noles rolled to a 9-2 thrashing of Miami. They went on to win that series, two games to one.

In their 1999 Super Regional, the Seminoles opened with a 10-2 rout over Auburn and followed with a 6-3 win for a sweep.

"The first game is a big deal," McGee said. "It's always good to get that one and hopefully it sets the tone. It takes a little pressure off and you have two days to get it done as opposed to losing that first one and you're scrapping to stay alive."

Martin also knows winning the first game gives his team a significantly better chance of moving on.

" I'd say the teams that win the first game end up winning the series more than the others," Martin said. "I know we haven't been very successful when we don't win the first one."

Still, regardless of the outcome of Game 1, Martin has reason to feel better this time around. That's because all three of the Super Regionals the Seminoles have won came at home.

All eyes on Gilly (By Tim Linafelt, The Osceola)

Sean Gilmartin (8-7, 4.74 ERA) knows exactly what kind of responsibility will fall upon him tomorrow at noon.

His team simply needs him to pitch well.

Win, and Florida State is in pole position for a trip to Omaha and the College World Series. Lose, and the Seminoles will have no margin for error as they attempt to climb out of a hole.

"It sets the tone for the whole entire weekend, going out and getting that first one," Gilmartin said. "Either way, i think it's going to be a great series."

After a rough stretch in which he dropped five consecutive decisions, Gilmartin has bounced back with two solid outings, including last weekend's win over Oregon in FSU's second game of the Norwich, Conn., regional. In that contest, Gilmartin pitched seven innings, allowed just three earned runs, and posted an 8-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Gilmartin has studied the Commodores on film, and is impressed with what he has seen.

"They've got a great ball club all the way around," he said. "They're a very patient team, so you've got to look for that."

Extras

Vanderbilt took a charter plane - a rarity in the world of college baseball - from Nashville to Tallahassee, Fla., much to the delight of Corbin. Vandy's coach has a reputation as relentless worker but even he has held shorter practices this week following the five games his team played in four days at Louisville. "I wouldn't want to make this trip on a double decker bus," Corbin said. "We gave them a day off and shortened things up a little bit. I think they were a little tired and as a coach you try to think like a player and ask what would you want if you were one of them."

FSU sophomore right fielder James Ramsey was a high school teammate with Vanderbilt sophomore reliever Grayson Garvin (1-1, 1.36 ERA) at Wesleyan High in Alpharetta, Ga., and the two are good friends.

Vanderbilt lost only three games in a row once this season and was never swept.

Vanderbilt traveled to Japan to play four exhibition games against local universities in late November. "The pitching was some of the best pitching you see in the world," Corbin said. "From that point on, our kids have responded in a very positive, very consistent way."