Florida State (37-21) was in control early, but the Owls kept it interesting until the end. The Seminoles’ phenomenal performance at the plate ultimately gave Florida State the, 13-7 victory over Florida Atlantic (40-20) in the Athens Regional.

Three Up

A healthy Flowers has contributed immensely in his junior season to the productivity of the batters around him in the lineup. In his 2019 campaign he had 25 extra-base hits -- 13 home runs -- in 204 at-bats compared to just 14 extra-base hits -- 2 home runs -- in 323 at-bats during his freshman and sophomore season. In the top of second, Flowers did exactly that slamming a home run out of right center on the first pitch of the inning jump starting a home run and hitting frenzy that would last the entire game. Following a Carter Smith single, senior Tim Becker made his post-season debut hitting his first homer of the season. After Mike Salvatore reached base due to a fielding error, Drew Mendoza brought him home hitting his fifteenth home run of the season giving the Seminoles an early, 5-0 lead in the top of the second.

The slugfest didn’t stop and Florida State finished with twenty hits and thirteen runs. Eight different players scored at least one run:

Sophomore Reese Albert didn’t want to be left out of the party adding a 2-run home run in the top of the ninth bringing the Seminoles total to a season-high six home run game (more on that later).

• Drew Mendoza had a spectacular showing in all aspects of his game on Friday. While the infielder is prone to making defensive errors and leads the team with 15, the senior followed his first home run with a double play that ended the second inning.

In the top of the sixth, after a leadoff single by Mike Salvatore, Mendoza hit his second 2-run home run of the game and his sixteenth of the year:

• Everyone welcome Tim Becker to the party. If there is a perfect time to come out with power at the plate, your senior year NCAA regional debut on the road isn’t exactly a bad time.

Oh and by the way, Becker was playing club baseball last year:

Following Becker’s first home run of the season, Becker hit his second 2-run homer of the day in the bottom of the seventh:

Three Down

• The Seminoles’ starting pitcher Drew Parrish had a roller coaster of an afternoon on the mound retiring after five innings of work. The left-hander gave up five runs on eight hits walking two and striking out seven. In the bottom of the sixth, Parrish was replaced by redshirt junior Chase Haney when three singles loaded the bases. After two RBI groundouts brought in two runs, but still resulted in two outs, Haney’s foot was hit by a line drive leading the Seminoles’ junior Antonio Valez to come in for relief. Overall, in Parrish’s last 3 starts, he has given up six home rungs.
• If Georgia wins tonight’s game against the Mercer Bears, the Seminoles will have their work cut out for them as they prepare to face the Bulldogs starting pitcher, Emerson Hancock. The sophomore posts a 1.53 ERA with 94 strikeouts to just 18 walks on the season and is currently projected as the possible number one overall pick in the 2020 MLB amateur draft.

BOX SCORE

GAME THREAD

Mike Martin, Tim Becker, and Drew Mendoza Media Availability:

Florida State will play the winner of the second game on Friday between No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Mercer.