TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Behind a career-high 8.0 shutout innings from senior Bryant Holtmann, No. 8 Florida State (26-8) blanked Florida Gulf Coast (16-16-1) 5-0 Tuesday evening on Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium.
“Well obviously Bryant Holtmann was the story of this ball game,” Florida State head coach Mike Martin said. “It was a great outing for him and Byrdie came in and did a nice job to close things out. It was an impressive win, I mean he gives up seven hits, walks two, that’s dog gone impressive.”
Holtmann (5-1) turned in arguably his best outing as a Seminole scattering seven hits over 8.0 innings as he struck out six to earn his fifth win of the season. The Albers, Ill., native worked into the ninth for the first time in his career but left to a standing ovation in front of the Seminole faithful after issuing a walk to Tyler Selesky to open the inning.
“We wanted very much for him to have the opportunity to finish it but he had thrown more pitches (100 on the night) than he has thrown as a Seminole in four years,” said Martin. “Had he not walked the guy, had he gotten an out, he would have had a chance to pitch to the next guy.”
Alec Byrd preserved FSU’s third shutout of the season and second in the last three games getting a fly out and then a groundball double play – the Seminoles’ fourth of the game – in the ninth to end the game.
Florida State and Florida Gulf Coast will return to action for game two of the mid-week series on Wednesday, April 8 at 4:00 p.m.
*FSU Sports Information
