FSU’s Dorsey, UVA’s Woolfolk face major tests in CWS elimination game

OMAHA, Neb. — As is the case so often in the college baseball postseason, the fates of the Florida State Seminoles and Virginia Cavaliers will rest largely in the hands of starting pitchers who have plenty of talent but are far from sure things.

When the Seminoles and Cavaliers meet in a College World Series elimination game today at 2 p.m. ET (ESPN), FSU will go with junior left-hander Carson Dorsey, while UVA will turn to junior righty Jay Woolfolk.

Both pitchers have been dominant at times, including during this postseason. They also have had several appearances that they’d like to forget.

Who performs best today on the biggest stage of his career — against an elite college offense — will give his team the best chance for survival.

“He’s grown and he’s done well,” Florida State coach Link Jarrett said of Dorsey and his first year with the Seminoles. “Had some really good starts. If there’s ever time for one, man, we need it.”

Dorsey, a junior college transfer, has been very good during the NCAA Tournament.

In a huge start to open the Tallahassee Regional against Stetson, he came within one out of pitching a complete game — scattering nine hits and one earned run — over 8 2/3 innings. Then he followed that up with a solid 5 1/3 innings (four hits, one run) in a blowout win against UConn in the Super Regional.

While both of those games took place in the comfortable surroundings of Dick Howser Stadium, Jarrett was quick to point out that Dorsey has had some big performances on the road as well, specifically mentioning at Duke (6IP, 7H, 2R, 2ER), and at Wake Forest (6IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER).

“He had some really good starts against some tough, tough teams on the road,” Jarrett said.

And Florida State’s second-year head coach also noted that Dorsey has improved throughout the year, as he has made the adjustment from junior college to high-level Division-I. Dorsey’s 7-4 record and 4.67 ERA are not sterling, but he seems to have pitched better as a starter than he did earlier in the year out of the bullpen.

“It’s just growth in learning, and he was a junior college pitcher. This is a lot different,” Jarrett said. “You have to manage nine to 10, 11, 12 really good hitters that are going to come at you. … I know it hasn’t been flawless, but he’s had some good wins against tough teams. And he has four pitches in play.

“Now finding those right out of the gate sometimes is the quest we have with him. But when it starts to sync up, he’s got a lot of weapons in play and handles the run game well. Tough kid. So it’s nice when he’s starting.”

Dorsey will square off against an impressive Virginia offense that was the only ACC team with a better team batting average than Florida State this season. The Cavaliers hit .332 this season, while the Seminoles hit .316. UVA ranks fourth nationally in runs scored.

The Cavaliers (46-16) have not been quite as dominant on the mound, however, as they have been in some seasons. And today’s starter, Woolfolk, is emblematic of that inconsistency.

Woolfolk was in the starting rotation early in the year but struggled before moving to the bullpen. He has a 4-1 record with a 5.95 ERA, has struck out 65 batters in 59 innings and has allowed nine home runs.

But when he was called upon to start twice in the postseason, Woolfolk was outstanding.

The 6-foot righty threw 8.0 innings against Mississippi State in the regional round and allowed just two runs on eight hits. He then allowed three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings against Kansas State in the Supers.

Woolfolk, of course, will face one of the most explosive offenses in college baseball. The Seminoles, who scored 11 runs in a CWS-opening loss to Tennessee, rank sixth nationally in runs scored and seventh in home runs.

Florida State and Virginia played once this season, with the Seminoles winning 12-7 in the ACC Tournament.

Neither pitcher was great in that game, but Woolfolk was better. He allowed one run on three hits in two innings, while Dorsey allowed four runs on three hits and a walk without recording an out.

Stay connected with Warchant.com for live coverage from Omaha.

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