3 up 3 down: FSU baseball’s pitching shines in midweek victory over Stetson

The Florida State Seminoles snapped a five-game losing streak in a 4-0 shutout win against the Stetson Hatters on Tuesday. Both Andrew Karp and CJ Van Eyk were lights out for the ’Noles, combining for a one-hitter. Mike Martin is now 7 wins away from making collegiate baseball history, with the most wins ever.

Three Up:

• Florida State’s pitching staff was absolutely phenomenal in tonight’s victory against Stetson. Karp started it off for the Seminoles, striking out nine and allowing the only hit in five innings. Van Eyk then came on to pitch a perfect four innings with five strikeouts. Both Karp and Van Eyk did not allow a single walk and dropped their ERAs to a 2.89 and 2.63, respectively.
• Patience is key, and that is one thing the ’Noles offense had on point tonight. Florida State hitters put pressure on Stetson’s defense by drawing ten walks that contributed to three of the four runs scored.
• Steven Wells was the only FSU hitter to go a perfect 2-for-2 on the day, with a solo home run and two walks. The Key West, Fla. native’s blast in the bottom of the fifth eliminated the chance of a no-hitter for the Hatters and got things going for the Seminoles offense. Wells also walked twice and had two runs, raising his batting average to a .213 on the season.

Three Down:

• FSU’s offense continues its hitting slump, only combining for four hits, with just one being an extra base hit, in tonight’s game. Without the exceptional pitching performance by Karp and Van Eyk, the Seminoles could have gotten into trouble against a Stetson lineup that had won eight of its last ten games.
• More missed opportunities are hindering Florida State from getting insurance runs. The Seminoles stranded twelve runners on base tonight. If the ’Noles can get back into a good hitting groove, opposing teams are looking at an extremely dangerous offense. But that’s a big “if.”
• Along with FSU batters being left on base, they also struck out six times. Notable hitters Cal Raleigh, Drew Mendoza, and Jackson Lueck contributed to four of those strikeouts and did not get a single hit tonight. This trio comprises the 3, 4, and 5 hitters in the lineup, they need to be capitalizing on leadoff walks or baserunners.

The Seminoles will look to clinch the midweek series against the Hatters on Wednesday at 4. Freshman lefty Austin Pollock (2-3, 5.49ERA) will take the mound in his first appearance against the Hatters.