TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 6 Florida State rallied in the bottom of the tenth to win its Atlantic Coast Conference opener Friday 9-8 against Virginia Tech on Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium. The Seminoles improved to 12-0 while Virginia Tech dropped to 8-4. Junior J.C. Flowers delivered the game-winning, walk-off double that scored three runs and kept the Seminoles perfect on the year.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E | |
| VT | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 1 |
| FSU | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| J.C. Flowers delivered! The boys brought some late night magic to Dick Howser Stadium! pic.twitter.com/p0KDPqrqCx
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) March 9, 2019
Conor Grady (2-0) allowed two runs in the top of the 10th inning after pitching a scoreless ninth. Luke Scherzer (1-2), the Hokies projected Game Two starter, gave up the final two runs without recording an out.
After allowing two runs in the top of the 10th, the Seminoles came to the plate with the game on the line. Mike Salvatore walked to lead off and Elijah Cabell was hit by a pitch with two outs. Walk-on senior Tim Becker battled to earn a six-pitch walk, loading the bases for Flowers. Flowers watched the first pitch for a strike and then smoked a ball to center field, off the wall, for the Seminoles second walk-off in as many games and third of the season.
Trailing since a three-run second inning from the Hokies, Florida State rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. Freshmen Alec Sanchez and Nander De Sedas both walked with one out and Nico Baldor pinch hit for Cooper Swanson and sent a ball over the third baseman’s head, scoring Sanchez and advancing De Sedas. Third baseman Drew Mendoza doubled to deep center field, driving in both runners, and tying the game at 6-6.
Florida State and Virginia Tech each hit three home runs in the first four innings, giving the Hokies a 4-3 advantage. The visitors built the lead to 6-3 with a pair of runs off FSU reliever Clayton Kwiatkowski in the seventh inning.
FSU starter Drew Parrish went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits and tying a season high with eight strikeouts. Tech starter Ian Seymour pitched five innings, allowing three home runs but leaving with a one-run advantage.
Of Note
- Friday was FSU’s third walk-off win of the season, and second in as many games. Freshman Mat Nelson had a walk-off sacrifice fly against Maine and Nander De Sedas hit a walk-off double against North Florida Wednesday.
- Cooper Swanson homered for the fourth time this season, all coming in the past five games. He has six career home runs.
- Elijah Cabell homered for the fifth time, tying Drew Mendoza for the team lead. The home run extended his hitting streak to a team-high 11 games.
- Cabell, Drew Mendoza (single) and Nander De Sedas (walk) each reached base and have reached safely in all 12 games this season.
- Jonathan Foster hit his first home run of the season and third of his career. As a team, FSU has 24 home runs from 11 different players.
- Mat Nelson threw out both of Virginia Tech’s would-be base stealers. For the season, opponents have been successful on just 3 of 7 attempts. Nelson also stole his first career base.
- Starting pitcher Drew Parrish tied a season high with eight strikeouts and 6.0 innings pitched.
- Friday was both teams first extra-inning game of 2019.
- Entering Saturday’s doubleheader, head coach Mike Martin is now just one win shy of 2,000 for his career. He is 1,999-713-4 in his career.
- The Seminoles have started at least 12-0 in consecutive seasons. FSU ran its record to 14-0 in 2018.
Up Next
Florida State and Virginia Tech wrap the series with a doubleheader Saturday. Game one begins at 12:00 p.m. and game two will begin 45 minutes after the completion of game one. Tickets for either game will get fans into the park Saturday and the stadium will not be cleared between games.
FSU will throw RHP CJ Van Eyk in game one and LHP Shane Drohan in game two. Both games will stream on ACC Network Extra.
Virginia Tech announced after Friday’s game that LHP Chris Gerard will start Saturday’s first game.
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).
