June 5, 1999

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Just when it looked like Florida State might be headed for another disappointment, the Seminoles came up with a ninth inning rally Saturday to win a second straight trip to the NCAA College World Series.

Pinch-hitter John Halliday doubled in the tying run off Auburn reliever Colter Bean and came around to score the go-ahead run on an error by Auburn first baseman Todd Faulkner to eliminate the Tigers, 6-3.

"I've been anxious to get an at bat and contribute," said Halliday, who scored the winning run when Faulkner couldn't flag down Karl Jernigan's grounder to his right.

Marshall McDougall singled in two runs to complete Florida State's four-run ninth inning rally, completing a two-game sweep in the double-elimination regional showdown.

"Their ninth inning was good enough," Auburn coach Hal Baird said. "I felt like we were playing uphill again tonight."

For the second straight night, Florida State's Matt Diaz jump-started the Seminoles - driving a two-run homer to left - in the first inning. Diaz hit a three-run homer Friday in the first inning to ignite Florida State's 10-2 victory.

Florida State is making its 14th CWS visit under coach Mike Martin, who is still looking for his first national title.

"This team can, but we've had a few that could have," Martin said. "It's time for us to go out there and see if we can win a national championship."

The Seminoles (53-12) will play the winner of the Texas A&M-Clemson playoff in their first CWS game.

Zach Diaz (3-1) got one out in the eighth inning to get credit with the victory and Chris Chavez fanned two Auburn hitters in the ninth and recorded his fifth save.

Bean (5-3) was tagged with the loss. Auburn finished 46-19.

Florida State scored twice in the first inning, but was otherwise dominated for most of the game by Auburn righthander Brent Schoening.

Schoening, who was 13-1 during the season, struck out 11 and Faulkner delivered a three-run homer in the seventh inning to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

"For the first time we finally got the upper hand," Baird said.

Schoening gave up only two hits after the first inning - a fifth inning single to Florida State's John-Ford Griffin and a ninth inning single to Brett Groves before leaving.

Faulkner hit his sixth home run of the season to right-center field on the second pitch off Florida State starter Jon McDonald.

Florida St. 200 000 004-6 7 2
Auburn      000 000 300-3 8 1

McDonald, Z.Diaz (8), Chavez (9) and Klosterman; Schoening, Bean (9) and Dunn. W-Z.Diaz, 3-1. L-Bean, 5-3. Sv-Chavez (5). HRs-Florida St., M.Diaz (18). Auburn, Faulkner (6).