Three up, three down: Crucial errors cost FSU baseball in loss to Ole Miss

Florida State baseball (31-23) fell to Ole Miss (43-19) by a score of 4-3 tonight. The Rebels had only one earned run as FSU made errors in costly situations. Both teams produced just four hits, but the Seminoles struck out 13 more times than Ole Miss. Ole Miss didn’t have an extra base hit. Every FSU hitter had a strikeout. Six had multiple strikeouts. On the mound, the Seminoles walked just five batters and allowed just an earned run. Through two games, FSU has an ERA of 0.50, but are now headed to an elimination game. Florida State will play Southern Miss at 2:00 PM tomorrow.

Three up

• Logan Lacey continues to be Mr. Reliable in the biggest moments for FSU. Lacey came up with a huge home run for the second straight game today. In the bottom of the fifth, Lacey crushed a full count pitch over the left field fence to give FSU a 3-2 lead. It was Lacey’s ninth homer of the season. The third baseman now has six homers and six multi-RBI games in the last 12 games.

• Isaiah Perry was inserted into the lineup today at center field against the left-handed starter. Perry’s first at-bat was one to forget. The right-handed hitter struck out on three high fastballs to strand two runners in scoring position. Perry bounced back in his next at-bat. Nikhazy went back to the high fastball with two strikes, but Perry connected. The redshirt junior lined a solo shot over the left field wall to get FSU on the board. It was the first homer of Perry’s career.

• Just like Parker Messick in game one, Bryce Hubbart battled and gave the Seminoles everything they could have asked for. Hubbart ran into trouble in the first inning behind poor defense and some command issues. After that, Hubbart was able to lock in and keep the Rebel’s potent offense off balance. In the second inning, Hubbart worked a 1-2-3 frame. He stranded two men on base in the third with a weak pop up in foul territory. The southpaw posted his second 1-2-3 frame in the fourth. He followed the next inning with another 1-2-3 frame, as he got a 3-6 DP to end the inning. He left the game with a lead, but the ‘Noles couldn’t hold on. Hubbart posted a final line of 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 R, 1 ER, and 96 P.
• Bonus: After FSU posted a crooked number in the fifth inning, the Seminoles needed a crucial shutdown inning. The inning got off to a bumpy start. Kevin Graham singled through the left side. A HBP ended Hubbart’s day. Clayton Kwiatkowski walked the first batter he faced. Kwiatkowski bounced back with a strikeout. Matheu Nelson ended the inning on a perfect throw to first for a back pick.

Three down

• Florida State got off to a rough start in the first inning for the second straight game. Yesterday, it was two errors and two unearned runs for Southern Miss. Today, it was two errors and two runs, one unearned, for Ole Miss. Jacob Gonzalez roped a one-out single into left field for Ole Miss’ first baserunner. Hubbart walked Tim Elko to put two men on with one out. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Kevin Graham brought in the first run on a hard grounder to Jackson Greene. Another run scored as Greene couldn’t handle the grounder for his second error in as many days. Graham also moved up to second on a throwing error from Robby Martin from right field. Hubbart limited the damage to two runs with a grounder to short and a weak fly out to center. FSU can’t keep putting themselves in a hole and playing from behind if they want to make a long postseason run.
• The errors have haunted FSU in close games all season. After two errors in the first, the Seminoles reeled it back in for a while, but a crucial error cost the ‘Noles big time. In the seventh inning, Kwiatkowski walked the leadoff hitter. Davis Hare came in out of the bullpen and allowed a opposite field single on his second pitch. He was able to induce a 5-4-3 grounder to bring FSU within one out of leading by one entering the bottom of the seventh. A walk and a wild pitch put two RISP for Tim Elko. Elko, who tore his ACL just over a month ago, grounded to shortstop and jogged down the first base line on one leg. De Sedas fielded the grounder and hustled the throw, which sailed over Tyler Martin’s head and scored two runs to give Ole Miss a 4-3 lead. Three of the four runs Ole Miss scored were unearned.
• Florida State’s offense had the quick strike power as advertised, but the swing-and-miss was also present as advertised. The first time through the order, Nikhazy was able to get chases from FSU above the zone with the fastball. Second time through, it was the curveball down in the zone giving Florida State fits. After that, Nikhazy used the crowd’s energy to mow down the FSU hitters in the sixth and seventh innings. The southpaw set a career 16 strikeouts. Nikhazy struck out the last five batters he faced and multiple hitters in each inning.

GAME THREAD

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