TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State and Maine played its fourth game in 48 hours Sunday, with the Seminoles (4-0) beating the Black Bears (0-4) 9-1 to complete the season-opening sweep. Freshman Robby Martin’s three-run double capped a seven-run seventh inning and four Seminole pitchers allowed just five hits while striking out 14.
Martin impressed all weekend for the Seminoles, finishing with a team-high .438 batting average (7-for-16) and nine runs batted in in his collegiate debut.
Sophomore Shane Drohan made just his seventh appearance, and first career start, for the Noles, allowing one hit and striking out seven in 3.0 innings. On a 70-pitch limit, Drohan also walked four Black Bears but worked out of trouble to keep Maine off the board.
FSU’s three relief pitchers, Antonio Velez (1-0), Jack Anderson, and J.C. Flowers, were all pitching for the first time for Florida State. The three combined to allow four hits, one run and strike out seven over the final six innings.
Freshman Elijah Cabell blasted a two-run double in the first inning off Maine starter Nick Silva (0-1), but that was Florida State’s only hit until the seventh. In the seventh, FSU combined for seven runs on three hits, highlighted by a bases loaded walk to Mat Nelson, a two-run single for Flowers, an RBI single for Drew Mendoza and Martin’s three-run double.
Velez pitched 4.0 innings in relief to earn the win, while Anderson and Flowers each pitched an inning. Velez is a junior college transfer, while Anderson is a true freshman and Flowers, a junior that had not pitched either of his first two seasons, is projected to play the outfield and pitch in 2019.
Maine managed just five hits in the game, including a pair of doubles, and scored its lone run on Cody Pasic’s RBI single to right field. Runner Joe Bramanti was originally ruled out at the plate on the throw from Martin, but the run counted after officials reviewed the play.
Of Note
- Junior college transfer Antonio Velez made his first Seminole appearance to start the fourth inning, pitching four innings. Freshman Jack Anderson started the eighth inning for his first action. In total, 12 of FSU’s 19 newcomers saw action during opening weekend.
- Shane Drohan, Velez, Anderson and J.C. Flowers combined for a season high 14 strikeouts. FSU hitters struck out just six times while drawing nine walks.
- Head coach Mike Martin improved to 1,991-713-4 for his career, just nine wins shy of 2,000 for his career.
- Florida State’s 7-run 7th inning was its highest-scoring inning this season. FSU sent 11 batters to the plate in the frame.
- Robby Martin finished his opening weekend with a team-high 9 RBI. FSU’s four starting freshmen (Martin, Nander De Sedas, Elijah Cabell and Matheu Nelson) combined to hit 14-for-47 with 5 doubles, 1 home run, 19 RBI and 12 runs scored.
Up Next
Florida State hits the road for the first time, visiting Jacksonville (0-3) for a 6:00 p.m. game Tuesday. The Dolphins were swept by Indiana State to open the season.
Conor Grady will make his first career start for the Seminoles. Grady was part of Friday’s season-opening no-hitter against Maine, pitching 3.0 innings and allowing a walk.
The game will stream live on ESPN3.
For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, or keep up with the team on social media through Twitter (@FSUBaseball), Facebook (/FSUBaseball), and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
