Florida State baseball sweeps Minnesota

Sunday

The brooms were necessary Sunday afternoon after the Noles defeated the Gophers, 7-1, to complete their first weekend series sweep since the beginning of April against Notre Dame.

John Nogowski and Jose Brizuela led the way for the Noles this weekend with 17 combined hits, each doing their part on Sunday to seal the sweep.

Nogowski, who totaled ten hits in two days, went 3-for-4 on Sunday with a double, a pair of singles and a RBI. Tens hits over a two day span is absolutely disgusting, and I definitely expect him to be ACC player of the week.

Brizuela rounded out his seven hits by adding two more Sunday afternoon, one of which was a bomb over the right field wall.

If Brizuela and Nogowski continue to provide shade for DJ Stewart, this lineup can become what we envisioned at the beginning of the year.

Taylor Blatch was the one that got the nod for Sunday's start and he pitched okay, giving up one run on four hits in 2.0 innings pitched. Blatch is a guy that has a highly active arm, devastating hitters when he's on. But he's young, and he's still showing signs of inconsistencies.

Dylan Silva and Peter Miller, however, had stellar performances yet again on Sunday. Silva, who would relieve Blatch in the third, threw 3.0 innings, giving up just one hit and no runs, while striking out three batters. Miller would come in for three innings of his own, striking out four and allowing just two hits.

If Florida State can continue to get quality outings from their bullpen, they're going to be alright. 11 said after the series that he expects Weaver to be ready to go next Friday, and that Holtmann will begin soft-toss tomorrow at practice.

The Noles will travel to Stetson on Tuesday, and Kenny Burkhead will get the nod.

Saturday doubleheader

The Florida State Seminoles took part in their fifth doubleheader of the year Saturday, and have now won all ten of those games.

FSU won the first game, 5-4, and won the second game, 3-2.

But it wasn't easy.

Both Luke Weaver and Gage Smith left the first game with apparent injuries, Weaver's seemingly the worse of the two. But the good news is that both players will be alright. Weaver took a liner off the high-ankle, but according to Mike Martin, should be fine and ready to go in about a week. Smith has tightness in his arm - something that he has played with before - and he's not expected to pitch Sunday, or against Stetson.

While the FSU pitching staff continues to take blows, the depth becomes clear.

Billy Strode continues to pitch well, throwing 3.2 inning in relief of Weaver on Saturday, striking out four and only allowing one hit. Strode has found his stride, and this will be important for a Florida State pitching staff that, at times, seems to be coming apart by the thread.

Dylan Silva came in during the second game in relief of Compton and showed great poise too. Silva only threw .2 innings for the Noles in a tight spot, but he showed composure and allowed the Noles to keep the lead.

Peter Miller would come in to close out the game for Florida State in the second game, striking out the only two batters he faced.

And while that depth in the pen becomes clear, Mike Compton continues to be strong for the Noles.

Compton threw 7.2 inning for FSU, and this was after throwing 30 pitches during the second inning. Compton's heavy ball stays low in the zone, and against an aggressive team in Minnesota, they jump on a pitch before they even know what it is.

The bats, though, were also there for the Noles on Saturday.

John Nogowski would record seven hits during the doubleheader, four of those during the second game. Nogowski, who went 7-of-9 from the plate on Saturday, drove in two runs for FSU. He was also responsible for the walk-off RBI single in game 1.

Ben DeLuzio continues to improve day-in-and-day-out, and was rewarded by being moved up in the lineup for the second game. DeLuzio hit his fourth triple of the year during the first game to plate two runs for the Noles.

Jose Brizuela also had a great day at the plate going 5-of-8 with two doubles and a RBI.

DJ Stewart, who set up Nogowski's walk-off, will go down in the record books reaching base in 65 consecutive games, but it won't extend any further, as it came to an end Saturday night after a great play by the Minnesota first baseman. And as 11 said after the game, "that's the same way Shane's streak came to an end, with an amazing defensive play. That is an amazing accomplishment for that young man."

Florida State will bring the brooms to Dick Howser tomorrow as they look for the sweep.