TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State’s freshman duo of Cal Raleigh and Jackson Lueck combined for five RBI and were vital in helping the Seminoles (18-5, 6-1) establish a six-run lead in the first inning as they topped NC State (16-8, 3-4) 8-5 on Friday evening.
Friday night's win was the first of three games in the next 24 hours for the Seminoles as the series was adjusted for the remainder of the weekend. The two teams will now play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12:00 pm. As of now, the plan is to play game three of the series (game two of the day) 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
In the series opener, FSU relied on Raleigh (2-3, 2 RBI, HR) and Lueck (1-2, 3 RBI), who each had a double in the contest. They were joined among the Seminole offensive leaders by Dylan Busby, who capped off a 1-for-3 outing with two RBI.
On the mound, FSU starter Mike Compton pitched 3.1 innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs while striking out two. He was followed by Jim Voyles who surrender just his first earned run of the season, while striking out three Wolfpack batters in just over two innings and 41 pitches.
Matthew Kinney (2-0) relieved Voyles in the sixth and held seven NC State batters hitless over the next 2.1 innings. Tyler Warmoth then closed the door in the ninth with three strikeouts, helping FSU improve to 15-3 at home while picking up his first save of the season.
“It is one of those games that you go up 6-0 and you better not relax and think that you’ve got it all figured out, because they are going to come back at you,” said head coach Mike Martin. “Our pitchers did an outstanding job and we got exceptional relief from Matthew Kinneyand certainly were pleased with Jim Voyles.”
The Seminoles, who exploded for six runs on five hits in the first inning, opened with a single to second by Taylor Walls. Two batters later Raleigh hit a double to right center, eventually reaching third as John Sansone was thrown out attempting to score from first. Gage Westextended the inning with a walk and Busby followed with a single to third that scored Raleigh for the first run. West padded the FSU lead at 2-0 on a throwing error.
Quincy Nieporte reached on a two-out walk and Ben DeLuzio loaded the bases for Lueck, when he was hit by a pitch from NC State's Joe O’Donnell. Lueck took advantage with a bases clearing double that pushed the Seminole lead to 5-0. Two batters later, after Matt Henderson was struck by a pitch, Lueck advanced home on a single to left by Walls for the sixth run of the game.
NC State plated its first run in the top of the third when Brett Kinneman opened the inning with a single into right field. Kinneman moved to second on a ground out by Joe Dunand, before scoring two batters later on a single into left centerfield by Brock Deatherage.
Stephen Pitarra opened the fourth inning for the Wolfpack with a triple to right field. Chance Shepard followed with a single, plating Pitarra and Preston Palmeiro added the third straight hit for NC State as he moved Shepard to second.
Two batters later Kinneman connected on a double to centerfield, scoring Shepard. The Wolfpack then trimmed the lead to 6-4 as Joe Dunand brought Palmeiro home on a sacrifice fly to left field.
NC State cut into the lead once again in the sixth inning after both Palmeiro and Xavier LeGrant reached base on walks. Kinneman knocked a single into left field plating Palmeiro as the Wolfpack moved to within one at 6-5.
The Seminoles responded in the seventh putting the Wolfpack away as Raleigh gave Florida State a two-run lead when he sent a homerun over the left field wall scoring Sansone. The homerun tied the freshman with Busby and Sansone for the team lead with three.
Weather permitting' the two teams will conclude the series Saturday. The first pitching matchup on will feature FSU right hander Drew Carlton (4-0, 3.08 ERA) and Brian Brown (2-0, 3.33). That will be followed by Seminole freshman hurler Cole Sands (3-2, 2.59 ERA) taking the mound for the sixth time in his career to meet Johnny Piedmonte (0-2, 2.70).
Seminole fans can always stay up-to-date on game times and any weather delays by calling 645-GAME or by following the official twitter page of the Seminoles (@FSUBaseball).
---Courtesy: Seminoles.com---
