WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The combination of Jim Voyles and John Sansone led sixth-ranked Florida State (23-9, 10-3 ACC) to a 13-8 victory over Wake Forest (21-18, 6-11) at Couch Ballpark on Saturday.
Voyles (5-0) held the Demon Deacons without a hit in 3.1 innings on the mound, after entering the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the fifth. He capped off his performance by converting two strikeouts and allowing a pair of walks. Voyles gave way to Tyler Warmoth in the ninth, who closed out the game for the Seminoles by holding Wake Forest scoreless to preserve the five-run victory.
“I knew that I couldn’t walk that guy in the fifth, so I had to bear down and give him a pitch low and in the zone that he could ground out on,” said Voyles of the fifth inning. “The defense made some great plays and I just tried to make Wake Forest get themselves by throwing good pitches. I didn’t really do anything special today, I just had a good outing with great defense behind me.”
The Seminoles, who topped double figures for the 12th time this season, were led at the plate by Sansone (3-5, 2 RBI, 3 runs), who capped off his 18th multi-hit game of the season with a two-run home run in the fourth that gave FSU a lead they would not relinquish.
Florida State also enjoyed a solid offensive performance from Jackson Lueck (2-5, 5 RBI), who established his season-high in RBI after a bases clearing double that plated three runs in the ninth. Teammate Taylor Walls finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs, including his first triple of the season.
After falling behind 2-0, the Florida State offense found its rhythm in the top of the third inning following a series of hits by Walls and Sansone. Lueck, hitting third in the lineup, lifted a single into centervfield that plated both Walls and Sansone, bringing the game to a 2-2 tie. Two batters later, Dylan Busby gave the Seminoles their first lead of the afternoon, 3-2, on a double off the left field wall that scored Lueck.
The Demon Deacons retook the lead at 4-2 before Donovan Petrey opened up the fourth inning for FSU by drawing a leadoff walk. He moved to third on a two-base error in left field, which allowed Matt Henderson to slide into second. Walls quickly cleared the bases with a triple, giving the Seminoles a one-run edge, before Sansone sent a two-run home run over the left field wall to push the advantage to 7-4.
Quincy Nieporte began the home half of the fifth inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Two batters later, Nieporte advanced to third on a single to left by DeLuzio, who loaded the bases for Henderson. Henderson and Walls both reached on walks, scoring Nieporte and Petrey, providing Florida State with a 9-4 lead. DeLuzio scored the final run of the frame when motored home on a passed ball.
Wake Forest closed the gap to two runs but FSU once again added to its lead. Florida State scored multiple runs for the fourth time in the game when it added three runs in the ninth. The frame began with a walk of Henderson, who moved to second on Walls’ third hit of the afternoon. Sansone loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch and Lueck cleared the bases with a double into the center field alley for the 13-8 final.
The rubber game of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday. The pitching match-up features FSU’s Cole Sands (3-3, 4.25 ERA) and Wake's Connor Johnstone (1-3, 5.74).
The game is being broadcast as part of the ESPN3 package with commentary from Stan Cotton (play-by-play) and Lary Sorensen (color).
Seminole fans can always stay up-to-date with the Florida State Baseball team by following the official twitter page of the Seminoles (@FSUBaseball).
--Seminoles.com--
