Florida State Comes Up Short

June 19, 1999 / 7:01 PM EDT / AP

Aching, wounded and exhausted, Florida State put a pitcher who is awaiting surgery for a torn knee ligament on the mound and hoped for a miracle.

They almost got it.

Miami beat the Seminoles 6-5 in the championship game of the College World Series as Florida State's Kevin Cash struck out swinging in the ninth.

Playing in their fourth game in 64 hours, and one day after a 13-inning, 14-11 victory over Stanford, the Seminoles (57-14) limped into the championship game.

"I thought we'd win it," Florida State coach Mike Martin said. "We're obviously disappointed, but thank God the sun is going to come up tomorrow. I'm going to cry sometime today and then I'm going golfing, and then I'm going to go to church."

Starter Blair Varnes (11-2), wearing a brace on his left knee that was visible under his uniform, started for Florida State and went into the seventh. He allowed eight hits, six runs, four walks and struck out one.

"I'm sure I could have torn cartilage or something," Varnes said afterward. "But I'm having surgery next week anyway and I didn't want to be old and gray and regret that I didn't pitch for the national championship."

Martin said he made the decision to start Varnes late Friday. Varnes winced occasionally and hobbled a few times off the mound.

"I had been begging to pitch all week," Varnes said. "Friday, they asked me if I thought I really could pitch and I said yes, and they trusted me and gave me the ball."

Miami reliever Michael Neu got his 16th save as he retired the side in the ninth to preserve the victory. Cash struck out on a full count to end the game and the Hurricanes won their third national title.

After Miami went ahead 6-2 in the fifth, the Seminoles came within 6-5 in the eighth.

"We came in second," said right fielder Matt Diaz. "You know that old saying that second place is first loser. It almost feels as bitter as going home last year after two rounds."

The Seminoles haven't won the title in Martin's 18 trips to Omaha. It looked like that might change after Florida State reached the finals with a dramatic victory over Stanford.

But the Seminoles used seven pitchers to beat the Cardinal, and Florida State faced a Miami team that had won five of six matchups this season between the instate rivals.

"I think if we would have come out here and played bad, I would be leaving really, really mad," Martin said. "But we played for it. For them to beat us in the way that they did all year long is a credit to them."