TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 14 Florida State (7-1) earned a 5-1 win over FAU (7-2) Friday in front of 4,249 fans at Dick Howser Stadium. Three Florida State pitchers, led by starter CJ Van Eyk (1-0), combined to allow just one hit against the Owls. Catcher Mat Nelson was 2-for-3 with a single, double, walk, hit by pitch and two RBI.
Aside from a rocky third inning when he walked three batters and hit Wilfredo Alvarez with the bases loaded, Van Eyk had his best outing of the young season. The right-hander struck out eight batters and allowed just one fifth-inning hit to Francisco Urbaez, the Owls only hit in the game. Chase Haney made his sixth appearance of the year, pitching around an error in the seventh inning. Antonio Velez needed just 20 pitches in the eighth and ninth innings to close out the game.
Offensively, FSU tied the game in the third inning when Tyler Martin scored on a double play from Reese Albert. Nelson doubled to deep left field in the fifth inning and Martin was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first base. Nelson gave FSU a 2-1 lead on Albert’s RBI infield single.
Martin drew a four-pitch, bases loaded walk for a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning. Nelson followed with a two-run single against reliever Mike Entenza. Jacob Josey (0-1) allowed just two hits in 4.2 innings for the Owls but walked four and hit three batters.
All nine of Florida State’s starters reached base safely via a hit, walk, or hit by pitch.
NOTEWORTHY
- Reigning ACC Player of the Week Elijah Cabell was hit by a pitch two more times Friday, giving him 10 for the year. He entered the weekend one shy of the national lead.
- Starting pitcher CJ Van Eyk worked a season-high 6.0 innings, striking out eight and allowing just one hit. The one hit allowed tied his fewest in a start in his career, matching his one-hit, six-inning performance in the 2019 ACC Tournament against NC State. That was also the last time FSU allowed one or fewer hits in a game.
- FSU struck out 12 FAU batters, reaching double-digits for the eighth time in eight games this season. Van Eyk’s eight are the most for a Seminole pitcher this season, matching his total from the season opener against Niagara.
- Chase Haney appeared in a game for the sixth time in 2020 and the 101st time in his career. Haney is tied for ninth in FSU history in total pitching appearances.
- Mat Nelson extended his on-base streak to a career-high 20 games.
UP NEXT
Florida State will play two games Saturday, against FAU and No. 3 Texas Tech. Freshman LHP Bryce Hubbart will make his first career start against the Owls at 2:00 p.m., while LHP Shane Drohan will face the Red Raiders at 6:00 p.m. Texas Tech is the highest-ranked non-conference opponent, outside of Florida and Miami, to play in Dick Howser Stadium since No. 1 Stanford visited in 2002.
Both games will stream on ACC Network Extra and fans can also listen on the radio in Tallahassee on 106.1 FM or nationwide through the FSU Gameday App.
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).
