TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The eighth-ranked Florida State baseball team (20-6) pounded out nine hits and drew 10 walks as it topped double digits runs for the 10thtime this season with a 10-1 victory over Texas Tech on Tuesday evening.
John Sansone (2-4, RBI, double) and Cal Raleigh (2-4, 2 runs) shared the team-high in hits, while Quincy Nieporte (1-4, 2 RBI) led the Seminoles in RBI, following a fifth inning homerun to left field.
The Seminoles trotted six pitchers to the mound, including Jim Voyles (3-0), who remains perfect on the season after striking out two Red Raider hitters and yielding only one hit as he lowered his ERA to 0.33.
“I am happy with the way that we kept our poise and get too far out of ourselves after swinging at some bad pitches early in the game,” said head coach Mike Martin. “Another key is that we pitched extremely well tonight. Jim (Voyles) came in and did what needed to be done—which was hold them in check and give us a chance.”
Florida State grabbed the early lead in the second inning when Ben DeLuzio drew a one-out walk and moved to second base on a single into centerfield by Darren Miller. After swiping his first base of the game, DeLuzio advanced to third with Nick Graganella at the plate. Graganella’s sacrifice fly to right field brought DeLuzio home for the 1-0 lead.
Texas Tech knotted the game at 1-1 in the fourth when Tanner Gardner extended the inning with a two-out double into right field. Corey Raley quickly followed with a single into shallow centerfield, scoring Gardner from second.
DeLuzio again played a key role in FSU’s offense as he led off the fourth inning with a walk. The speedster stole his second base in a game for the third time this season setting up Graganella with one out. After a dropped third strike allowed Graganella the chance to reach, DeLuzio scampered to third before eventually scoring on an errant throw as the Seminoles assumed the 2-1 advantage.
FSU added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth, pushing the lead to 4-1, after Raleigh prolonged the inning with a single into left centerfield. Cleanup hitterNieporte followed by sending a 2-0 pitch over the left field wall for his first homerun of the season.
By virtue of four walks and a hit by pitch, FSU scored two runs in the sixth. DeLuzio reached base via a hit by pitch and advanced to second following a walk of Donovan Petrey. A failed pickoff attempt by Texas Tech catcher Tyler Floyd moved both runners up and with one out Matt Henderson loaded the bases with a walk. Taylor Walls followed with a walk, scoring DeLuzio, and Sansone sent a sacrifice fly into centerfield that plated Petrey for the 6-1 cushion.
After two quick outs, Hank Truluck kept FSU’s seventh inning alive with a single through the left side of the infield. Steven Wells Jr. immediately followed with a single to center, advancing Truluck to second. The next two Seminole hitters, Tyler Holton and Henderson, reached after being hit by a pitch and walked as the Seminole lead ballooned to 7-1.
FSU came through with its third multi-run inning of the game in the eighth as the Seminoles took advantage of Raleigh, Hayden Kelly and Dylan Busby reaching base in succession. Consecutive wild pitches by Texas Tech’s Chandler Eden allowed Raleigh and Kelly to stretch the margin to 9-1. Truluck completed the at-bat with a sacrifice fly to the centerfield track as Busby scored from third for the final run of the game.
The midweek series concludes on Wednesday when FSU’s Cole Sands (3-2, 2.92 ERA) clashes with Ty Damron (2-1, 6.04).
FSU Baseball season ticket holders do not need to buy tickets. Fans who have tickets for the originally scheduled NC State game on Sunday (March 27) are encouraged to use their tickets on Wednesday, April 6th. Reserved seats will be honored as reserved.
For more information on tickets please visit www.seminoles.com or contact the Florida State Ticket Office at 888-FSU-NOLE.
Seminole fans can always stay up-to-date with the Florida State Baseball team by following the official twitter page of the Seminoles (@FSUBaseball).
