TALLAHASSEE, Fl. — No. 14 Florida State (4-1) notched eight hits and scored 10 runs over the final three innings, topping Cincinnati (0-4) 11-4 Friday night at Dick Howser Stadium. Sophomore left fielder Elijah Cabell’s three-run home run gave FSU the lead in the sixth inning, while six FSU pitchers combined to allow just two earned runs.
Cabell finished with four RBI after drawing a bases loaded hit-by-pitch in the seventh inning. He was hit by a pair of pitches and also drew a walk against the Bearcats. Reese Albert and Robby Martin had a pair of hits in the late innings – Albert hit his first two doubles of the year, while Martin’s two-run single pushed FSU’s lead to 8-3 in the seventh inning.
Starting pitcher CJ Van Eyk struggled in the cold weather, with temperatures sitting in the 40s throughout the game. FSU’s junior ace allowed five hits and a pair of runs in 3.2 innings, while walking four and striking out three. Cincinnati’s first-inning run off the right-hander was unearned on FSU’s first of three errors on the night.
Tyler Ahearn (1-0) earned the win, striking out one and giving up an unearned run in the sixth inning. In the bottom of that frame, Nelson singled and Albert doubled before Cabell’s first home run of the season traveled 389 feet to right-center field for a 4-3 lead.
Cincinnati starter Evan Shawver did not allow a hit in five innings, with nine strikeouts. The Noles pounced against the Bearcat bullpen though, with eight hits, nine runs, four walks and two hit batters in the last three innings. Jackson Murphy (0-1) surrendered the home run to Cabell for the loss.
Jace Mercer, Cincinnati’s leadoff batter, was 3-for-4 Friday with a pair of doubles and a home run.
NOTEWORTHY
- Elijah Cabell was hit by a pair of pitches Friday, pushing his season total to five. He has drawn an HBP in four straight games.
- Cabell’s four RBI were one shy of his career-high, set last year vs. Youngstown State.
- CJ Van Eyk and Clayton Kwiatkowski each hit a Cincinnati batter Friday, FSU’s first HBPs allowed in 2020.
- FSU drew eight walks Friday. The Noles ranked fourth nationally entering the weekend with 37 walks in four games.
- Six FSU pitchers combined to strike out 10 batters. The Noles have hit double-digit strikeouts in all five games this season.
- Redshirt senior pitcher Chase Haney appeared in his fourth game in 2020. He ranks seventh in FSU history with 99 career pitching appearances.
UP NEXT
Florida State hosts Cincinnati for the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. FSU will throw LHP Shane Drohan, while Cincinnati will counter with RHP Nathan Kroger. Both pitchers are looking for their first win of the season.
