The #17 Florida State Seminoles run ruled the #6 Florida Gators on Tuesday night 14-3. This game proved as a HUGE response for FSU after suffering three straight losses to Clemson over the weekend.
SCORING RECAP:
The visiting Noles took to the bats first and capitalized with three runs in the top of the first inning. Three singles by Cam Smith, James Tibs III, and Jaime Ferrer loaded the bases, which Daniel Cantu then very quickly cleared with a 3 RBI double. However, Jac Caglianone tied the game for the Gators with a three run HR in the bottom of the same inning, his 12th of the season.
Cantu's 3 run double.
The game would stay tied until the top of the 4th where Drew Faurot hit his second HR of the season. This would be followed by a single from catcher Jaxson West who scored FSU's 5th run due to an RBI single from freshman Max Williams.
Cantu's second double of the game came in the 5th inning, allowing Tibbs III to cross home base to increase the lead to 6-3.
In the top of the 6th, Cam Smith continued his stellar season with another RBI double after two consecutive outs in the inning. Tibbs III kept the two out rally alive with a single base hit, bringing Smith home.
Cantu homered in the 7th solidifying a career day from the FSU first basemen. He tied a career high with 5 RBIs on the day.
Faurot would put the game on ice in the top of the 8th crushing a GRAND SLAM over the right field fence, his first grand slam of the season and third HR.
FSU batted .375 to UF's .111. Something the Noles have been very successful with this season is bringing runners home and this continued today batting .545 with RISP.
Faurot trots the bases after his 1st HR.
PITCHERS:
The UF pitching rotation consisted of 6 different arms. As a group, they combined for 3 Ks, 3 BBs, and 14 earned runs(ER) on 15 hits, three of those hits being HRs. Alex Philpott picked up his second loss of the season, both coming against the Noles, as he allowed 5 ER and 7 hits.
FSU featured 4 arms of its respective pitching staff tonight. Andrew Armstrong got the start, although his day was done very quickly after one inning in which he had 2 Ks, 1 BB, and 3 ER on 2 hits. Overall, the Seminole pitching staff combined for 13 Ks, 3 BBs, and only 3 ER on 3 hits. Joe Charles picked up his first win of the season (1-0).
John Abraham on the mound.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
After a soul crushing three game series this weekend against Clemson in which they blew a 4-0, 8-1, and 11-2 lead respectively, FSU yet again got off to a hot start and held the lead for most of the game. The difference today? The bullpen FINISHED. After the senior Andrew Armstrong conceded 3 runs in the first, Charles, Abraham, and Oxford combined for 7.0 IP only allowing a single hit and 11 Ks. This was a breath of fresh air after the bullpen allowed 23 runs over 8.2 innings over the weekend.
The one thing that has remained consistent throughout the beginning of the season is their offense. The Noles entered today's game with the #3 batting average in the country (.344) and number 7 in total scoring with 222 total runs and averaging 10.1 a game. Today was more of the same as the bats hung 14 runs on a pitching staff which ranks in the top 10 nationally in K/9. The player of the game has to be Daniel Cantu going 3-4 with 5 RBIs on two doubles and his second HR of the season. Entering the game today Drew Faurot had 1 HR and 1 RBI. Following his performance today he now has 3 HRs on the season and 6 RBIs. Of course, Cam Smith and Tibbs III had great games which is what we have come to expect from the duo. Smith went 2-5 with an RBI and a double and Tibbs III went 3-4 adding an RBI to his team leading 37.
This is exactly the kind of game you need to see after a weekend such as the one this team had. They have had to face adversity for the first time of the young season and came out and RUN RULED a top 10 team in the Florida Gators. If the bullpen can be more consistent in throwing strikes, as it was today, this team will be a very serious contender for hosting a regional. FSU now shifts its focus to a 3 game home series against the Louisville Cardinals this weekend and the Gators will look to bounce back against a very capable Mississippi State team this weekend back in Gainesville.
FSU moves to 20-3 (3-3) on the season and stay perfect in their mid week games (5-0).
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