Link Jarrett believes walk-off win over Wake Forest can help Florida State for next season

It has not been the season head coach Link Jarrett probably would have hoped for as his first campaign as head coach of Florida State. But the program did claim a major victory Sunday when then walked-off No. 1 Wake Forest via a Jordan Williams walk-off hit.

The Seminoles did lose the series to the Demon Deacons but Jarrett couldn’t help but be hopeful coming out of the game. When asked if there was anything the team can take from such a great performance going forward into 2024, Jarrett said that is definitely the case.

“100%,” Jarrett said after the game. “For Cam to go make that play or for Rank to come in and catch and make that throw, you need to see the work paying off. This has been our — you guys may know — is the most difficult schedule after this weekend?…It’s got to be up there. What more can they have thrown at them? Nothing.”

Wake Forest got out to an early 3-0 lead in the game before Florida State started the comeback in the seventh inning. Colton Vincent got the team on the board first with a double that scored Cam Smith. A Jordan Carrion single during the next at-bat then scored Treyton Rank. A pinch hit sacrifice fly from McGwire Holbrook then tied the game, setting up the heroics in the last inning.

After a Nander De Sedas double, Williams hit a 3-1 single with two outs that scored De Sedas and gave them the walk-off win. It was Williams’ fourth hit as a member of the Seminoles.

Jarrett arrived at Florida State, where he had played in the 1990s, to start a new era for the Seminoles program. This season is the first time the program has not been coached by Mike Martin or his son, Mike Martin Jr.

The team had a 34-25 record last season but the new era has come with some bumps as the young team has struggled to a 20-30 record this year.

“But making these plays and delivering some key at bats in key moments, those are worth hundredfold times what a round of BP and a round in the cage and hitting off the machine and fielding a fungo,” Jarrett said. “When you do it in this moment, yes, it does create some confidence and excitement about the work you have done paying off in a winning style.”