Dylan Fitzsimmons came off the bench to deliver a standout performance, leading St. John's to a 6-5 comeback victory over Florida State on Friday in the opening game of the NCAA Tallahassee Regional at Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

The Red Storm erased a three-run deficit with a three-run eighth inning to tie the score before pushing across the go-ahead run in the ninth. Fitzsimmons, who entered the game in the second inning for an injured Lewis Rodriguez, went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Adam Agresti also contributed a solo home run for St. John's. Jayder Raifstanger finished 2-for-4 with an RBI single.

Florida State built its lead on early power and timely hitting. Brayden Dowd was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a pair of walks. Gabe Fraser went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and scored two runs, while John Stuetzer launched a leadoff home run on the first pitch his team saw in the bottom of the first. Carter McCulley and Cal Fisher added two hits apiece for the Seminoles.

The Seminoles jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Stuetzer's homer, but Agresti tied it for St. John's with his own solo shot in the top of the second. Fraser immediately put Florida State back on top 2-1 in the bottom half of the inning. FSU extended its lead to 5-2 through six innings, highlighted by RBI hits from Dowd. The game turned in the top of the eighth when Fitzsimmons' homer cut the deficit to 5-3. St. John's then capitalized on a wild pitch and a passed ball to score two more runs and tie the score at 5-5. In the ninth, Raifstanger's single scored Fitzsimmons to give the Red Storm their first lead, which they would not relinquish.

Up next: Florida State will play in an elimination game at Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. St. John's will play on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the same venue.

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