COLLEGE WORLD SERIES : Fresno State and LSU Open With Victories

Fresno State drew the unenviable assignment of playing top-seeded Florida State in the opening game of the 45th College World Series.

Fresno State, the co-champion of the Big West Conference, is the No. 8-seeded team in the eight-team double elimination tournament.

Seeding, however, doesn’t matter much when Bobby Jones is your starting pitcher. Fresno State proved that Friday with a 6-3 victory over Florida State at Rosenblatt Stadium.

The Bulldogs (42-21) advance to Sunday’s winners’ bracket game against No. 4 Louisiana State, an 8-1 winner Friday over No. 5 Florida. Florida State (57-13) fell to the losers’ bracket and will play Florida in an elimination game Sunday.

Jones (16-1), an All-American right-hander who entered the tournament with 1.81 earned-run average, allowed eight hits. He walked one and had eight strikeouts in pitching his 17th complete game.

“Jones lived up to his billing,” Florida State Coach Mike Martin said. “Early when he needed to, he played hard and worked out of jams.”

The victory made Jones the winningest pitcher at the NCAA Division I level. He was tied for the lead with Kennie Steenstra of Wichita State, who is expected to start for the No. 3 Shockers today against No. 6 Cal State Long Beach.

Clemson, No. 2 seeded, plays No. 7 Creighton in today’s first game.

Vernon Spearman’s bases-loaded triple during a four-run fifth inning was the key hit for Fresno State against Seminole starter Roger Bailey (11-3), who walked four and gave up five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Fresno State scored two runs in the sixth on Chris Falco’s ninth homer.

Florida State scored single runs in the second, fifth and seventh innings. Ty Mueller hit his 11th homer in the seventh.

Lyle Mouton of Louisiana State (52-18) hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the seventh inning, to lead the Tigers over Florida (49-20).

Mouton homered off John Burke (8-5) in the first inning and John Pricher in the seventh.

Chad Ojea (13-5) pitched the final three innings for the victory.