TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State walked-off winners for the fourth time this year, beating Boston College 4-3 on Mike Salvatore’s single Saturday night. The win moves the Seminoles to 18-8 overall with a 6-5 conference mark, while Boston College falls to 13-13 and 4-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Jonah Scolaro earned his first win of the season with his three innings of relief.
The teams will play a rubber match Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
Tim Becker walked to begin the bottom of the ninth inning and moved into scoring position by way of a sacrifice bunt from Matheu Nelson. Salvatore then hammered the third pitch he saw from Joey Walsh (0-2) through the right side, and Becker was able to slide home right as the ball arrived.
Boston College notched seven hits against starter CJ Van Eyk, but all seven were singles and the Eagles lone run against the right-hander was unearned in the sixth inning. Of the three runs Boston College scored, only one was earned.
Van Eyk and Scolaro combined to allow 11 hits (10 singles and a double) and strike out eight. The Eagles were 0-for-3 with the bases loaded, including Scolaro’s strikeout to end the top of ninth inning without allowing the go-ahead run.
After falling behind 7-0 in Friday’s opener, Florida State struck for three runs in the first inning Saturday. First baseman Carter Smith reached on a bunt single, Drew Mendoza and Elijah Cabell walked and Robby Martin notched his team-high 29th RBI on a groundout. J.C. Flowers hit a two-out single to give FSU a 3-0 lead through one inning.
FSU loaded the bases on three walks from Zach Stromberg in the fifth inning, but Sean Hughes struck out Cabell and Will Hesslink forced a Martin groundout to escape the potential damage.
The Eagles scored in the sixth inning when Brian Dempsey singled, Cody Morissette reached on a throwing error and Dempsey scored on a wild pitch. Van Eyk was able to get out of the inning with back-to-back groundouts to the mound to keep FSU’s lead 3-1.
In the top of the seventh inning, Boston College tied the game. With runners on first and second, Mendoza rushed a throw to first that allowed a run to score, followed by Dempsey’s RBI single to score Jake Alu and tie the score at 3-3. Scolaro retired the next two batters to keep the score tied.
Salvatore’s single in the ninth inning was just the Seminoles’ fourth hit of the game. FSU drew eight walks and struck out just five times.
OF NOTE
- Junior Carter Smith made his first start at first base and hit second in the lineup. He reached on a bunt in his first at-bat.
- Tim Becker made his first career start Saturday for the injured Reese Albert in right field.
- Catcher Mat Nelson threw out his fifth and sixth base-runners of the year. Nelson added his third double of the season to start the seventh, FSU’s only extra-base hit.
- FSU has four walk-off wins this season from four different players – Mat Nelson, Nander De Sedas, J.C. Flowers and Salvatore.
Up Next
Sunday’s series finale will now begin at 12:00 p.m. due to weather later in the day. LHP Shane Drohan will start for the Seminoles.
The game will stream on ACC Network Extra. Fans in Tallahassee can listen on the radio on 106.1 FM and nationwide on 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).
