Three up, three down: Parker Messick leads FSU baseball to series opening win over No. 16 UVA

Florida State baseball picked up its first ACC win of the year with a 2-0 shutout of No. 16 Virginia. The Seminoles continued to struggle at the plate, but a timely hit from Robby Martin in the third inning was all the ‘Noles needed, with Parker Messick shined on the mound. Despite a one-out single, Hunter Perdue shut the Cavaliers down in the ninth inning to hammer home the win for the Seminoles.

Three up

• Parker Messick was at his very best and then some tonight. The southpaw dominated the Cavaliers from the first inning to the 8th. Messick was efficient and in the command for a career high eight innings and 11 strikeouts. The southpaw was mixing up his arsenal the whole game, keeping UVA hitters off-balance and away from any hard contact. The southpaw didn’t give up a hit till the fifth inning. Messick sat in the low 90’s with his fastball and heavily utilized his changeup to induce consistent weak contact. He also flashed plus with both his curveball and slider. When all four pitches are on for the southpaw, he’s almost un-hittable. Messick also attacked hitters all night, as he didn’t walk a single batter. The second-year freshman posted a final line of 8 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 11 K’s, 0 ER, 114 P (78 S).
• The Seminoles got good news pregame as both Tyler Martin and Matheu Nelson were in the lineup after being game-time decisions. Martin got off to a quick start, as he ripped the first pitch he saw into left field for a leadoff single. In his next at-bat, Martin worked a walk, starting a two-out rally which led to Martin’s RBI single and the first baseman scoring the first run of the game. Martin also led off the bottom of the eighth with his second base knock of the day. The leadoff hitter also swiped two bags in the eighth. As the second-year freshman goes, so will the Seminoles. Martin is as good of a table-setter as anyone in college baseball.
• Last season, Florida State’s defense was a liability. So far this season, they’ve been consistent and reliable. The Seminoles posted their third error-free game in the last four games. In 17 games in 2020, the Seminoles had two error-free games. FSU has turned numerous clutch double-plays this season. Messick induced another big one in the fifth inning. Logan Lacey started a routine 5-4-3 GDP to strand two runners. If the Seminoles’ infield continues to make the routine plays, the floor of the 2021 team will rise significantly.

Three down

• Florida State once again struggled to put the ball in play. UVA’s starter posted a career high 14 strikeouts in 5.2 IP. Eight of nine hitters struck out and five K’d multiple times. Just three of FSU’s first 18 outs came on balls in play. The Seminoles struck out 18 total times. Despite the K’s, FSU still picked up the win. The ‘Noles are going to strike out a bunch, but they can still win games when they post timely hits, make routine plays, and throw strikes, as they did tonight.
• FSU’s middle third of the lineup struggled mightily tonight in the box. All three had a hat trick at the plate. Elijah Cabell was 0-3 with three strikeouts. The outfielder also left two runners on base. Cabell also misplayed a ball in left field for the second time this year. Reese Albert was 0-3 with three K’s. Dylan Simmons was 0-3 with 3 K’s. The three were a combined 0-9 and never put the ball in play, with nine K’s and just two walks. Cabell also
• N/A. Florida State had another rough night hitting, but were great in every other phase.

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