Towns' blast lifts Virginia over Florida State in ACC baseball tournament

DURHAM, N.C. — Kenny Towns’ three-run homer in the bottom of the 12th inning lifted Virginia past Florida State 7-4 on Saturday at the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament.

Towns finished with four RBIs and Joe McCarthy also homered for the third-seeded Cavaliers (47-10). They trailed by three early before rallying to finish the tournament 2-1.

Virginia coach Brian O’Connor learned Friday afternoon that his team was eliminated from the ACC title chase when Virginia Tech finished pool play 3-0.

“I told my team that we never play a game that doesn’t have meaning,” O’Connor said. “We need to treat it like a championship game.”

Florida State’s Jameis Winston walked Derek Fisher and Reed Gragiani to start the 12th. After one out, Towns drove a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left to end it.

Casey Smit hit a two-run double during the three-run sixth that put the second-seeded Seminoles (44-15) up 4-1.

Virginia tied it in the bottom of the eighth when Mike Papi singled to right off FSU closer Robby Coles. Towns, who was on first, was running on the pitch and he headed toward third as Jameis Winston lobbed the ball back to shortstop Giovanny Alfonso, who was standing on second base.

Towns rounded third and raced for home. Alfonso appeared to hesitate before he threw home high, allowing Towns to slide in under the tag

Nick Howard, who started the game at shortstop, pitched the final inning for the Cavs to earn the win (6-4).

Florida State lost its fourth straight game and finished the tournament 0-3.

“That was a fun week – reminds me of a trip I took to Afghanistan for vacation,” FSU coach Mike Martin said sarcastically.

Florida State 001 003 000 000 — 4 8 3Virginia 001 002 010 000 — 7 13 0

Leibrant, Holtmann (6), Smith (5), Strode (7), Coles (8), Winston (10( and McGee. Mayberry, Young (5), Kirby (5), Sborz (6), Crockett (7), Howard (12) and Irving. HR—McCarthy (4), Towns (7).

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