Florida State Baseball Sweeps Pitt

Friday Game 1:

The Florida State bats came to life as they defeated the Pitt Panthers by a final score of 15-2.

Florida State faced an early 1-0 deficit heading into the bottom of the first, where they would score three runs to retake the lead. The sixth inning is when Florida State opened up, batting around and scoring eight runs, highlighted by a DJ Stewart grand slam. The Noles added four more in the bottom of the eight after a Chris Marconcini grand slam of his own. It was the first time FSU hit two grand slams in a game since April of 2002.

"Cant say we expected any of that because the game of baseball is so hard to predict, so hard to figure out. It was a game in which we scored eight runs, we of course were in control of the ball game, but up until that inning it was a one run ballgame, and Boomer was pitching extremely well."

The pitching by the Seminoles was a key part of tonight's game, as Pitt was only able to muster two hits all game. Boomer Biegalski got the start, pitching six innings, allowing two earned, two walks, and two hits while recording the win. Jim Voyles relieved him and threw two perfect innings getting three strikeouts. Taylor Folsom wrapped up the game with a scoreless inning, only allowing a walk.

The Seminoles still have work to do making contact, even with the final score. Florida State struck out 13 times in eight innings of at bats. The team as a whole has more combined strikeouts than hits this season.

Due to the weather forecast for Sunday, FSU and Pitt will play a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1 PM. Game two will begin one hour after the completion of game one.

Saturday Games 2 and 3:

It took a total of six hours and 40 minutes for the Seminoles to secure the sweep of the doubleheader, and the series against ACC opponent Pitt.

Game one was close throughout, with the Noles taking their first lead in the bottom of the first inning on a three run Chris Marconcini home run, after starter Mike Compton allowed two runs in the top half of the inning. Those were the only runs he would give up in the start, pitching six full innings. The Noles then found themselves down by one heading into the bottom of the seventh, when John Sansone hit a two run homer, putting FSU back up by one. Billy Strode came in the ninth and preserved the game, striking out the side, and getting his 11th save of the season in the 6-5 victory.

Game two was a different story, as the Noles once again found themselves down heading into the fourth inning, but were able to rally for three runs. The Seminoles then took over the game, scoring seven more times in the fifth, highlighted by Chris Marconcini's second home run of the day, and fifth in the last four games. Drew Carlton did his part, allowing one run in his six innings pitched. The Panthers would try to claw back against the bullpen, scoring four times in the seventh and once in the ninth, but could get nothing more in the Noles 10-6 victory.

On the victories, John Sansone said, "Its huge, we come out and score 15 runs yesterday, and then kind of have a close one earlier, then 10 runs, it just shows that we're coming together and really working hard and trying to grind out our best."

Florida State improves to 30-12 (14-7) on the season, and will remain home to prepare for in-state opponent Stetson who come to Tallahassee on Tuesday at 6 PM.