Seminoles Baseball to be Tested in Athens

The Seminoles lost their first game of the season Wednesday at Jacksonville and despite what you will hear from some uneducated fans the season is in fact not over. Florida State swept its first series of the season albeit against lowly Oakland, a team that should be swept by Noles ten out of ten times. This weekend will be much different as they travel to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs who had a tremendous opening weekend of their own.

Florida State took both games against the Dawgs last season in Tallahassee with the third game being canceled, if they can take two games this weekend it will be a big step in the right direction.

OFFENSE:

Georgia's offense is off to a scorching start as they plated 39 runs in their opening weekend against Eastern Illinois. As a team they hit .397/.447/.724 which included 6 homeruns, 5 triples and 10 doubles. The Dawgs also diplayed solid plate discipline striking out 13 times while walking eleven.

The Noles have scuffled at the plate in the young season as they are trying to break in new players, adjust for injuries and create a consistent lineup. Florida State has yet to use the same lineup this season and I would imagine that would continue throughout at least the first month of the season. As a team the Noles have only three hitters with more than 10 at bats who are hitting over .300 and are uncharacteristically undisciplined at the plate but that is due to the 15 strikeout performance on Wednesday night.

PITCHING:

Both starting pitching staffs had excellent debuts with the Noles staff combining for 16 IP, 2 earned runs with 16 strikeouts and 3 walks while Georgia starters had 17 IP, 4 earned runs with 4 walks and 14 strikeouts. A large difference is that through three games Bulldogs defense has been superb in supporting their pitchers as they have yet to commit an error.

That unfortunately has not been the case for the Seminoles as they have committed 8 "official" errors but if you have watched them play it has not been pretty. The only positive to come from the poor defense is that pitchers, both starters and relievers, have done well working out of jams.

Game 5 - at Georgia February 20

First Pitch: 5:00 p.m. ET

FSU Starter: RHP, Mike Compton (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

UGA Starter: RHP, Robert Tyler (1-0, 3.60 ERA)

Radio: 106.1 FM - Tallahassee

TV/Internet: SEC Network Plus/ESPN3

Game 6 - at Georgia February 21

First Pitch: 12:00 p.m. ET

FSU Starter: RHP, Boomer Biegalski (1-0, 3.60 ERA)

UGA Starter: LHP, Ryan Lawlor (1-0, 3.00 ERA)

Radio: 106.1 FM - Tallahassee

TV/Internet: None

Game 7 - at Georgia February 21

First Pitch: 4:30 p.m. ET

FSU Starter: RHP, Cobi Johnson (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

UGA Starter: RHP, David Sosebee (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Radio: 106.1 FM - Tallahassee

TV/Internet: SEC Network

I don't have a real good feeling about this trip and this team yet. There are going to be growing pains, the likes that most fans probably haven't seen. If the Noles can return home with one win under their belt this weekend I will be very pleased.

Of note, Saturday is now a doubleheader beginning at noon with the second game later that afternoon. See everyone back here at 4PM.

Go Noles!