No. 16 Seminoles take down USF Bulls in extra innings

Postgame: FSU won it’s first extra inning game of the year beating the USF Bulls 7-6 in 13 innings. While the Seminoles got good pitching on the day their offense was subpar for the second game in a row. On Sunday against TCU FSU struck out 14 times and recorded just one hit and against USF tacked on another 16. Freshman Cam Smith had a particularly rough go of it striking out in five of his six at bats but every Seminole that had an at bat, except Colton Vincent, struck out at least once. However, Florida State prevailed and was able to gut out a win.

Florida State started the game very well against USF. Jamie Arnold pitched three inning of no hit ball recording four strike outs to his one walk but did plunk two batters. In the bottom half of the first Jamie Ferrer led the game off with a single and was brought home on James Tibbs monster home run. FSU was able to tack on another run with a Jordan Carrion single and Cade Bush double.

From there teams traded goose eggs until the fifth when the Bulls touched up a relieving David Barrett with a home run followed by a double. A single given up by Brennen Oxford brought USF within one until the next inning when USF chased Oxford with two singles to start the inning. Wyatt Crowell gave up the tying run on a wild pitch and ground out but was able to extinguish the threat from there.

The ‘Noles regained the lead in the bottom half of the six with a Nander DeSedas two out single RBI and almost had more but Ferrer lined out to first with the bases loaded. Crowell cruised through the next inning but started the eighth with three straight walks. Crowell didn’t give up a hit in his three innings but did give up a run on a slow grounder to third. However, a pair of strike outs killed the Bulls’ momentum.

Once again teams traded empty innings without many chances until the 13th when USF led off with a double that came around to score on a single. Connor Whitaker had come in for Crowell and pitched four strong innings but without any offensive support his number finally came up. USF tacked on an insurance with another pair of singles.

FSU started the bottom half of the 13th with a strikeout and Treyton Rank walk followed by a Carrion triple that just got under the glove of a diving right fielder. A Gunnett Carlson hit by pitch brought a change in pitcher and then batter. With runners at the corners freshman Titan Kimaka struck out on nine pitches and things looked bleak. DeSedas lifted a 2-1 pitch into short center field and the USF short stop could not make the catch as the ball bounced off his glove on an over the shoulder catch attempt. The ball was able to bounce so far away that pinch runner Connor Moore was able to score from first securing the win for FSU.

Up Next: FSU hosts the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, who are 8-1 but haven’t played anybody of note yet.

Original: Newly-ranked No. 16 Florida State Seminoles baseball (6-1, 3-0) is set to face off against in-state foe USF (3-5, 0-0) and looks to continue its winning ways.

The Bulls have had a pretty tough slate early in the year — starting off the season taking one of three from No. 13 Maryland, splitting their series against No. 7 Florida and most recently, dropping the last two games of their series against FAU.

FSU pitcher Jamie Arnold (6.75 ERA) will look to build some momentum in this game after struggling in his first two starts, lasting just 2.2 innings in each. Similarly, USF starter Nolan Hudi (6.75 ERA) was just moved to the mid-week role after starting in the rotation the last two weeks.

Florida State vs. USF is set for a 5 p.m. start in Tallahassee, with the game set to stream on ACC Network Extra.

Florida State vs USF: How to watch, starting pitchers

Wednesday 5:00 PM

Watch: ACC Network Extra

Listen: Seminoles Radio Network

FSU: LHP Jamie Arnold (0-0, 6.75 ERA)

USF: LHP Nolan Hudi (0-1, 6.75 ERA

Up Next: FSU hosts Florida Gulf Coast University for a three game weekend stretch continuing eight straight home games for FSU.