Albert powers FSU past LSU 6-4 to open NCAA super regional

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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Reese Albert hit a three-run, game-tying homer in the seventh and added a solo shot in the ninth, and Florida State opened the NCAA's Baton Rouge super regional with a 6-4 victory over LSU on Saturday.

J.C. Flowers, who started the game in center field, went to the mound in the eighth and recorded six outs for his 12th save this season.

Florida State coach Mike Martin, who plans to retire after this season, is now one victory away from his 17th College World Series trip since taking over the program at his alma mater 40 seasons ago.

LSU took a 4-0 lead with single runs in the second through fifth innings. Josh Smith had two hits and scored twice for the Tigers (40-25), while Chris Reid added two hits and singled home a run.

Florida State (40-21) didn't have a hit until Robby Martin's single to right with one out in the sixth against LSU reliever Todd Peterson. Drew Mendoza advanced to third and scored FSU's first run on Matheu Nelson's infield hit on a high chopper to third.

Albert tied it when he launched Trent Vietmeier's 3-2 pitch over the right field bleachers with two runners on in the seventh. The towering shot came after Albert had fouled off five straight two-strike pitches.

Nelson walked against Devin Fontenot (5-3) with one out in the eighth and scored the go-ahead run on Tom Becker's sacrifice fly to left.

FSU's Antonio Velez (4-2) pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the win.