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Florida State baseball extended the nation’s longest active winning streak to nine games Sunday, outscoring Northern Kentucky 37-9 in a three-game weekend sweep at Dick Howser Stadium from March 6 to 8.
Junior pitcher Wes Mendes started for the Seminoles in the opener and made an immediate impact, retiring the first six Norse batters in order with strikeouts through the second inning. FSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore infielder Noah Sheffield hit a solo home run on a 1-1 count. The ’Noles failed to add more in the frame, and the Garnet and Gold returned to the field with a 1-0 lead.
Florida State increased its lead to 2-0 in the second inning but quickly returned to defense as the offense stalled. The Seminoles saw Northern Kentucky capitalize on a Mendes throwing error to tie the game in the top of the third, but FSU regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning behind the speed of junior outfielder Chase Williams. The ’Noles added another run in the fourth to lead 4-2.
The Garnet and Gold watched Mendes leave the game in the sixth inning with a career-high 12 strikeouts after loading the bases. Florida State turned to junior pitcher Chris Knier, who replaced him on the mound and limited the damage.
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“I’ve had problems with walks in the past,” Knier said in the postgame press conference. “It’s about having people’s backs. I know Wes would have to do the same for me if I got put in a situation like that.”
The Seminoles won the series opener 7-3, scoring in every inning except the fifth.
More: FSU baseball crushes Mercer 22-5 behind historic 13-run inning
Junior pitcher Trey Beard started for FSU in the second game and retired the first three batters in order. The ’Noles offense scored three runs in the first inning, including a two-run home run by sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey.
After Northern Kentucky hit a home run and drew a walk against Beard in the top of the second, the Garnet and Gold returned to the plate quickly as the defense retired the next three batters.
Florida State scored three runs in the second inning behind aggressive baserunning, including a rare triple steal with the bases loaded. The Seminoles cheered as Sheffield stole home on the play, becoming the first player to do so since J.C. Flowers on March 9, 2018. FSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth before redshirt senior infielder Eli Putnam hit a grand slam to increase the lead to 10-1.
The ’Noles brought in junior pitcher Brodie Purcell to the mound in the top of the sixth inning. The Garnet and Gold starter, Beard, left the game after throwing 72 pitches with 44 strikes and a 2.92 ERA.
“We’re going to have to keep fighting and continue to try to pitch like that,” head coach Link Jarrett said in the postgame press conference. “This roster and staff is more experienced and older on the pitching side. They have to execute, and it has to be consistent for us.”
Florida State won 13-3 after the run rule ended the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Junior pitcher Bryson Moore started the series finale Sunday for the Seminoles. Moore and the FSU infield retired the Norse in order in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first, the ’Noles watched freshman outfielder John Stuetzer steal second and third base before scoring on a double by Bailey to open the scoring.
The Garnet and Gold maintained the pressure as Stuetzer hit a two-run home run to extend the lead to 8-0. Florida State saw Bailey follow with a two-run home run of his own, increasing the Seminoles' lead to 10-0. The FSU offense slowed after the first inning, adding runs steadily through the sixth.
The ’Noles got a boost from junior outfielder Brayden Dowd, who hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the sixth to provide the final 17-3 margin.
“[Dowd's] a very solid player,” Jarrett said. “He’s savvy in the outfield, gets great jumps and reads. He’s here to be right in the middle of this thing.”
The Garnet and Gold improved to 13-2 on the season and play their next game in Gainesville against Florida at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10.
Abraham Piroozmand is a Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on FSU News: Wes Mendes, Noah Sheffield lead FSU sweep of Northern Kentucky
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Junior pitcher Wes Mendes started for the Seminoles in the opener and made an immediate impact, retiring the first six Norse batters in order with strikeouts through the second inning. FSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore infielder Noah Sheffield hit a solo home run on a 1-1 count. The ’Noles failed to add more in the frame, and the Garnet and Gold returned to the field with a 1-0 lead.
Florida State increased its lead to 2-0 in the second inning but quickly returned to defense as the offense stalled. The Seminoles saw Northern Kentucky capitalize on a Mendes throwing error to tie the game in the top of the third, but FSU regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning behind the speed of junior outfielder Chase Williams. The ’Noles added another run in the fourth to lead 4-2.
Mendes dominantes in series opener
The Garnet and Gold watched Mendes leave the game in the sixth inning with a career-high 12 strikeouts after loading the bases. Florida State turned to junior pitcher Chris Knier, who replaced him on the mound and limited the damage.
Never miss a swing: Sign up for the FSView Newsletter
“I’ve had problems with walks in the past,” Knier said in the postgame press conference. “It’s about having people’s backs. I know Wes would have to do the same for me if I got put in a situation like that.”
The Seminoles won the series opener 7-3, scoring in every inning except the fifth.
More: FSU baseball crushes Mercer 22-5 behind historic 13-run inning
Junior pitcher Trey Beard started for FSU in the second game and retired the first three batters in order. The ’Noles offense scored three runs in the first inning, including a two-run home run by sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey.
After Northern Kentucky hit a home run and drew a walk against Beard in the top of the second, the Garnet and Gold returned to the plate quickly as the defense retired the next three batters.
Sheffield steals home to clinch series
Florida State scored three runs in the second inning behind aggressive baserunning, including a rare triple steal with the bases loaded. The Seminoles cheered as Sheffield stole home on the play, becoming the first player to do so since J.C. Flowers on March 9, 2018. FSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth before redshirt senior infielder Eli Putnam hit a grand slam to increase the lead to 10-1.
The ’Noles brought in junior pitcher Brodie Purcell to the mound in the top of the sixth inning. The Garnet and Gold starter, Beard, left the game after throwing 72 pitches with 44 strikes and a 2.92 ERA.
“We’re going to have to keep fighting and continue to try to pitch like that,” head coach Link Jarrett said in the postgame press conference. “This roster and staff is more experienced and older on the pitching side. They have to execute, and it has to be consistent for us.”
Florida State won 13-3 after the run rule ended the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Explosive first inning completes sweep
Junior pitcher Bryson Moore started the series finale Sunday for the Seminoles. Moore and the FSU infield retired the Norse in order in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first, the ’Noles watched freshman outfielder John Stuetzer steal second and third base before scoring on a double by Bailey to open the scoring.
The Garnet and Gold maintained the pressure as Stuetzer hit a two-run home run to extend the lead to 8-0. Florida State saw Bailey follow with a two-run home run of his own, increasing the Seminoles' lead to 10-0. The FSU offense slowed after the first inning, adding runs steadily through the sixth.
The ’Noles got a boost from junior outfielder Brayden Dowd, who hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the sixth to provide the final 17-3 margin.
“[Dowd's] a very solid player,” Jarrett said. “He’s savvy in the outfield, gets great jumps and reads. He’s here to be right in the middle of this thing.”
The Garnet and Gold improved to 13-2 on the season and play their next game in Gainesville against Florida at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10.
Abraham Piroozmand is a Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on FSU News: Wes Mendes, Noah Sheffield lead FSU sweep of Northern Kentucky
Continue reading...
