TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 7 Florida State overcame a three-run deficit in the first inning to defeat North Florida 4-3 Wednesday night on Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium. The win keeps the Seminoles perfect at 11-0, while the Ospreys drop to 8-6. Freshman shortstop Nander De Sedas completed the comeback with a game-winning double in the bottom of the ninth inning.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| UNF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| FSU | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
Chase Haney (1-0) earned the win, allowing just one hit over the eighth and ninth innings. Four Seminole relievers (Jonah Scolaro, Conor Grady, Clayton Kwiatkowski and Haney) combined to allow just four hits without walking a batter in 8.2 innings pitched.
The Ospreys jumped out to a hot start as they earned two walks, four hits, and three runs to force FSU starter Antonio Velez out of the game after only one out. Scolaro came in and struck a batter out and forced a fly out to strand the bases loaded. Scolaro did not allow a baserunner in his eight batters faced.
A sluggish Florida State offense struck out 17 times, one shy of the school record. Despite leaving 14 runners on base, FSU got a timely hit from De Sedas in the second inning that scored Carter Smith and from Elijah Cabell in the seventh inning. Cabell’s two-run home run scored Drew Mendoza, tied the game and got a quiet Howser Stadium crowd on its feet.
After Haney pitched a perfect top of the ninth, catcher Mat Nelson reached base on a throwing error that chased Eddie Miller (1-1) from the game. Logan Clayton entered, walked J.C. Flowers and De Sedas lined a double off the right field fence that easily scored Nelson.
The win was FSU’s second walk-off win of the season. Nelson had a sacrifice fly to beat Maine during opening weekend.
Of Note
- FSU’s bullpen continued to dominate Wednesday night. For the season, FSU’s bullpen is 6-0 with a 1.01 earned run average in 53.2 innings pitched (6 ER). The relievers have a 55-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio and have surrended just 22 hits.
- Mike Salvatore stole a base for the second straight game. He has 10 career stolen bases. He also drew two walks in a game for the seventh time in his career.
- FSU played errorless baseball for the fourth consecutive game and ninth time this season. On the year, FSU has committed just two errors and leads the nation in fielding percentage (.995).
- Florida State is one of four remaining undefeated teams (Arizona State, NC State, Tennessee).
- Elijah Cabell extended his hitting streak to a team-high 10 games. Fellow freshman Robby Martin saw his 10-game hitting streak come to an end.
- FSU’s three-run deficit tied its largest of the season (5-2 against Maine, February 16).
- Head coach Mike Martin is two wins away from 2,000 for his career. He is the winningest coach in college baseball history.
Up Next
Florida State opens Atlantic Coast Conference play this weekend at Dick Howser Stadium against Virginia Tech (8-3). Friday’s game is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. start and will stream live on ACC Network Extra.
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).
