Photo courtesy of Florida State athletics
It was yet another winning week for Florida State baseball.
After splitting a pair of midweek contests with Florida Gulf Coast, the Seminoles took two of three from Clemson at Dick Howser Stadium over the weekend. FSU has now won five straight weekend series.
Unfortunately for FSU, Sunday’s contest will be the final one at home this season. Tallahassee was not named among potential NCAA Regional locations.
Despite the bad news, there was plenty of good this past week. Here’s a look back:
A Look Back
Florida Gulf Coast 8, Florida State 7
Tuesday, May 11 (completed Wednesday)
For the second time in less than a month, Florida State had a contest suspended by weather. Unfortunately for the Seminoles, they were unable to hold on this time. After trailing 3-1 through five, Florida Gulf Coast used a 6-run sixth to take a big lead. Richie Garcia’s 3-run home run was followed by a solo shot from Joe Kinker for the Eagles. FSU managed to draw even with a 4-run seventh, which was highlighted by Logan Lacey’s 2-run single. FGCU went ahead for good on Jacob Lojewski’s solo home run in the ninth.
Florida Gulf Coast 1, Florida State 2
Wednesday, May 12
FSU salvaged a series split, thanks to Elijah Cabell’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. Tyler Martin and Jackson Greene each had two hits in the win. Brian Ellis was 3-for-4 with a solo home run for FGCU. Wyatt Crowell allowed just a hit in 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.
Clemson 3, Florida State 8
Friday, May 14
Bryce Hubbart allowed just a run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven in six solid innings for FSU to earn the win as the Seminoles took the series opener from Clemson. FSU used a 4-run eighth to pull away from the Tigers. Logan Lacey finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs in the win. Sam Hall scored two of the three Clemson runs. Hall’s 2-run home run in the seventh cut the FSU lead to 4-3.
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Clemson 9, Florida State 5
Saturday, May 15
FSU rallied from an early 3-run deficit, but Clemson scored the game’s final six runs to tie the weekend series. The Tigers went ahead for good with three runs in the seventh. Caden Grice added a solo home run in the eighth. FSU took a 5-3 lead on Cabell’s grand slam in the fifth. Clemson tied the game with two runs a half-inning later. Grice and James Parker each finished with two runs scored and two RBIs for Clemson. Lacey also homered for FSU.
Clemson 6, Florida State 9
Sunday, May 16
FSU rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to take the rubber game from Clemson. The Seminoles trailed 6-5 entering the bottom of the eighth before scoring four runs to go ahead for good. After Robby Martin’s RBI bunt single tied the game, Davis Hare put FSU ahead for good with a 2-run single. Jackson Greene and Tyler Martin also each drove in two runs in the victory. Blake Wright was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs for the Tigers. Wright’s 2-run shot in the sixth gave Clemson a 6-5 lead.
In the Polls and Standings
After a 3-2 week, FSU is 28-19 overall and 19-14 in ACC play. FSU now sits in second place in the ACC Atlantic behind Notre Dame and tied for second overall with Coastal division-leading Georgia Tech.
In the Baseball America Poll, FSU crept up one spot to No. 12. The Seminoles also climbed one spot in the D1Baseball Poll to 16th. FSU remained No. 30 in the Collegiate Baseball Poll.
Nuggets
With the two victories over Clemson, FSU assured itself a winning record in ACC play. The Seminoles have finished with a winning conference record in 27 of 29 seasons in the ACC. The exceptions were a 14-14 finish in 2017 and a 1-2 ACC record in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign.
Chase Haney, Clayton Kwiatkowski and Nick Baldor were the three seniors honored for FSU on Senior Day on Sunday.
In Friday’s 8-3 win over Clemson, Haney made his program-record 137th pitching appearance. The record had previously been held since 2005 by Kevin Lynch.
FSU’s pitching staff leads the ACC in ERA, strikeouts and opponents’ batting average.
Upcoming
FSU will wrap up the regular season with three games at NC State on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All three contests will stream on ACC Network Extra.
Thursday and Friday’s contests begin at 6:30 p.m. ET. Saturday’s finale begins at 1 p.m. ET.
Mike Ferguson is the managing editor for Fifth Quarter. Be sure to follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeWFerguson. Follow all of Mike’s work by liking his Facebook page.