After two rain delays, the Florida State Seminoles (9-0) beat the Mercer Bears (8-3), 12-1. The final game of the series will be Sunday at 1 P.M.

3 Up:

• FSU scored 12 runs Saturday afternoon, but it wasn’t as if the Seminoles were stringing together tons of hits. Rather, they found a way to manufacture runs—their 10 walks+hit batters was just shy of their hit total (11), but when they got hits, they made them count, as the ’Noles continued their early-season extra-base hit trend with five, including two more long-balls. Sophomore Cooper Swanson blasted a three-run home run to left in the bottom of the third to give FSU its first lead of the game. According to Trackman, it went 482 feet and cleared the giant scoreboard. It was Swanson’s second big-fly of the weekend (last night he hit an opposite-field shot).

• Starting pitcher CJ Van Eyk (3-0) had a strong showing on the mound, as he threw five innings, allowing just one run on five hits, while walking none and striking out eight Bears. He accomplished that while working around two lengthy weather delays. This is the type of performance the ’Noles need more often from their dynamic Sophomore.
• Another error-free game from FSU makes just two errors in nine games this season. Head Coach Mike Martin said it’s quite possibly their best start defensively in 39 years.

3 Down:

• At the start of the game, it was announced that Sophomore OF Reese Albert was dealing with a sprained thumb and wouldn’t be in the Seminoles’ lineup. In the post-game press conference, Martin gave an update on Albert’s injury, stating he’d be out at least two-three weeks, and they should know more after a MRI Saturday night.
• In a lineup full of outstanding hitters, Senior Mike Salvatore’s placement as the Seminoles’ leadoff hitter is somewhat puzzling. Salvatore struggled again, going 0-4. He led off three separate innings and was retired each time. His last plate appearance was better, though, as he hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Matheu Nelson. For the season, he’s reaching base just 32% of the time (not good enough for a leadoff hitter).
• The weather is most certainly a down. FSU has already dealt with two mid-week rain-outs this season, and the ’Noles had to handle two more weather delays today. Delays make it hard for teams to stay warm and focused, but it didn’t seem to have a negative effect on the Seminoles’ performance today.

BOX SCORE

GAME THREAD