Florida State (26-14) combined extra base hits, good plate discipline and solid mid-week pitching to beat the Hatters 10-4, their seventh win in their last eight games.

Three Up

• It’s been a rough week for Drew Mendoza but he finally started to show signs of life. Although he did strike out twice he also recorded three RBI on two home runs, one of which cleared the batter’s eye in center field. Mendoza wasn’t alone though as Florida State made the most of their hits. Reese Albert chipped in two triples and Mike Salvatore one, Elijah Cabell added a home run and Matheu Nelson rounded out the day with a double. Seven of FSU’s 10 hits were for extra bases. In fact FSU did not have a single until the fifth inning and by then they had already scored six runs.

• The Seminoles did not just put up runs by slugging but were solid all around at the plate and on the base paths. FSU did strike out 11 times but paired that with six walks and four hit by pitches. Cooper Swanson was a mad man on the basepaths stealing three bases on three attempts.
• Pitching wasn’t terrible for the ‘Noles. Shane Drohan had a very good start, striking out eight in three innings of work and giving up just one run. Antonio Velez struck out six but did give up five hits and back-to-back home runs in his 3.1 innings of work. They weren’t great but once FSU got up big the pitchers did challenge Hatter hitters.

Three Down

• FSU must not practice fielding. Once again the ‘Noles could not keep a clean slate in the error column. They did have a few good plays including Mendoza making a diving stop and throwing out a runner at home but they couldn’t go the full game without giving up an error.

• Tyler Ahearn was not one of the pitchers that had a good day. Despite giving up no earned runs he did give up one run and the error wasn’t really the biggest issue. In .2 innings Ahearn walked a runner and gave up a hit and could have given up more runs if not for the good play by Mendoza at third.
• Austin Pollock wasn’t great either but wasn’t really terrible. Unfortunately FSU expected much better of the sophomore did finish off the final two innings of the game but gave up two walks and an earned run despite not surrendering a hit. Pollock should have much better control of his stuff at this point in his career but so far he hasn’t been able to put it all together.

Game Thread

Box Score

FSU returns to ACC play, hosting a late charging Wake Forest team staring Friday at 6:00.