FSU picked up their fifth straight win with a 10-5 win over Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon. Florida State’s offense provided the thump today with 11 hits and four extra base hits. The offense also got eight free passes on the day. On the hill, the Seminoles struck out 11 batters while walking just three. FSU will go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM with Conor Grady on the bump.

Three Up

• Elijah Cabell takes the number one spot on this list after a three-run homer for the second straight day. Cabell smoked a first pitch homer to dead center field in the sixth inning that broke the game open for the ‘Noles. The homer was the definition of a no-doubt home run, the center fielder didn’t even move. The sophomore has already drove in 11 runs on the season. If Elijah continues to produce at this rate, FSU will win a whole lot of games in 2020. The more impressive feat for Elijah may be his HBP rate! After three HBP’s today (a school record), the sophomore has been hit eight times in the last five games.

• All season, this team has bounced back from bad games or bad innings. FSU has fallen behind in their last three games but won all of them. After getting down 2-0 in the top of the second, the ‘Noles responded with a two-spot of their own on three hits. Cincinnati retook the lead in the fifth inning, but it didn’t last long as FSU put up another two-spot on a two-RBI single from Nander De Sedas. The ability to respond has been this team’s biggest strength so far.

• The decision to hit Tyler Martin leadoff on opening day was questioned and doubted by basically everyone. So far, he’s proved everyone but Mike Martin Jr. wrong. After a 3-4 day, the freshman is hitting .467 on the season. Martin has also walked four times as he’s produced a .579 OBP at the top of the order. Most importantly, the left-handed hitter is putting the ball in play at an extremely high rate, with just one strikeout on the season. He has more extra base hits than strike outs through six games. If he continues to put the ball in play at this rate, he’ll be leading off for the majority of the season.

Three Down

• Shane Drohan once again didn’t have an awful day, but he didn’t do what FSU expects or needs out of their Saturday starter. Drohan got through the fourth inning for the first time this year, but it took 91 pitches to do so. He also allowed three passes for the second straight game. The lefty managed to limit the damage to two runs with seven strikeouts, but the efficiency is still the glaring issue. FSU needs their starters to eat up innings, no matter how good or deep the bullpen is. So far this season, the junior hasn’t showed any improvement with the command or efficiency.
• De Sedas came into Saturday’s game with a .750 fielding percentage and four errors in five games. The defensive issues continued early and often for the sophomore. On the second batter of the game, De Sedas sat back on a chopper, leading to a rushed throw going over the head of Carter Smith at first base. De Sedas extended the first inning as he misplayed a slow roller for his second error of the inning. The errors forced Drohan to throw eight extra pitches and get five outs in the inning. If the defense continues to trend this direction, he’ll find himself getting moved back to second at some point this season.
• The infield defense is going to be an adventure all season long. FSU provided the trailer to the movie in the fifth inning with miscue after miscue. With runners on the corners and one out, Chase Haney got two double play balls which Florida State’s infield turned into one out. Tyrell Brewer bobbled the first, before making an errant throw which resulted in no outs and a Cincinnati run. Jackson Greene made a high throw to first which pulled Carter Smith off the base and resulted in another Cincy run. The infield defense will likely make an appearance in 3-down much more than Junior wants this season.

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