No. 21 Florida State goes 2-1, wins series vs. Pitt to start ACC play

Florida State (11-4, 2-1 ACC) kicked off its conference schedule on a successful note, winning two out of three vs. the Pittsburgh Panthers (8-6, 1-2 ACC) to start ACC play.

After welcoming back football alum on Friday, with former baseball player Jameis Winston taking the mound for first pitch ahead of a win, the Seminoles clinched the series against the Panthers on Saturday following a jersey retirement ceremony for future Cooperstown inductee Buster Posey.

FSU wasn’t able to finish off the series with a sweep on Sunday, however, giving up a lead to Pitt in the sixth inning and falling 8-6 to cap off the weekend.

Sunday

Heading into Sunday Florida State had scored in the first inning nine of 14 games. After Sunday it moved to 10 out of 15 games. James Tibbs and Jaime Ferrer recorded FSU’s first back-to-back home runs of the season giving FSU a 2-0 lead after one.

Pitt would load the bases in the top of the second on a hit batter, walk and single and use a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice to tie the game. Cam Smith fielded a ground ball and threw to Nander DeSedas at second to turn two but DeSedas went home after tagging second and the throw was just late. The ball was not hit hard enough for DeSedas to try and make a play at first.

FSU would jump back on top in the bottom of the second with a Ben Barrett double, passed ball and Colton Vincent sacrifice fly scoring the freshman. The Seminoles would take on a few more runs two batters later as DeSedas homered over the right field fence scoring Cade Bush, who singled.

Pitt would strike back in the top of the third using a free pass and long ball to pull within one, 5-4. FSU wasn’t able to respond in the bottom of the inning and neither team put up runs in the fourth. With the rain falling and two outs in the top of the fifth Montgomery walked a batter and then gave up the double to tie the game. Monty was able to end the damage with a strike out but the rain delay began. A few minutes later the delay ended in what might be the shortest rain delay in the history of baseball as it was seven minutes.

Florida State would strike back after the delay with a Tibbs walk and Jaime’s double down the line taking the lead 6-5. That was Jaime’s third extra-base hit of the game. Pitt would tie it up again in the top of the sixth after Ryan Denison walked a batter, who moved to second with a stolen base and scored on a dying single to right field. Andrew Armstrong came in and gave up the lead on a home run to dead center. Armstrong ended the inning with a single and strikeout but the Panthers had the lead 8-6.

FSU was able to threaten in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of singles by Ferrer and Smith but couldn’t get anything across. Lightening in the bottom of the eighth put things on hold for a bit.

Up Next: FSU travels to Orlando for a two-game set with UCF on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Saturday: ‘Noles clinch series on day they celebrate Buster Posey

Florida State started off hot against Pitt in front of former players, including the newly jersey retired Buster Posey. Back-to-back walk set the plate for two singles and a double resulting in four runs for FSU. Jaime Ferrer and Jordan Carrion picked up an RBI each with Cam Smith getting two for himself. Initially Carrion was ruled out at the plate on Smith’s single but after review he was ruled safe due to catcher’s interference. Maybe Pitt head coach Mike Bell said something to the umps while arguing the review as he was tossed rather quickly.

Pitt starting pitcher Kyle Mosley settled in well and FSU’s Wyatt Crowell was his usual self meaning nobody scored for five innings. Crowell threw six innings of no run ball but weirdly didn’t have any 1-2-3 innings. He did record a career high 10 strike outs while giving up just three hits. Unfortunately with Crowell starting the game, FSU had trouble piecing the rest of the game together.

Doug Kirkland started off the seventh with a quick out before giving up a home run and a walk. A loud fly out to center field ended his day. Brennen Oxford came on and failed to record an out giving up a single and a walk. Jaime Arnold entered the game with the bases loaded and walked in a run bringing the score to 4-2. He was able to extinguish the threat by striking out the next batter.

FSU struck back in the bottom of the seventh with Nander DeSedas stealing second after getting aboard with a bunt single. He scored when Titan Kamaka struck out but ended up on second after the ball got away from the catcher and the throw to first ended up in right field. This game was plagued by the reviews and this inning had two (Treyton Rank was called out after being hit by a pitch and they reviewed whether or not Kamaka was out of the baseline after the strikeout).

Arnold coasted through the eighth inning but struggled in the ninth walking two more batters and giving up a run on single making the score 5-3. Another walk to load the bases with two outs ended Arnold’s day. Arnold was mixed on the day. Five strike outs in two innings was great but the four walks a bit less so. Andrew Armstrong slammed the door shut on the Panthers by striking out the only batter he face winning the game 5-3.

Friday: Florida State wins game one in extras

In the bottom of the twelfth inning, FSU pulled ahead of the Pittsburgh Panthers for a final score of 3-2. Cam Smith started the inning with a single and moved to third on a James Tibbs single. Jaime Ferrer was intentionally walked to load the bases before Jordan Carrion sent everybody home with a game winning single through the left side of the infield.

Florida State got a very good performance from Baumeister but struggled to give him run support. FSU was able to out hit Pitt in that time frame and get multiple runners into scoring position but couldn’t get that crucial hit. Baumeister struck out nine in five innings of three hit ball. His only blemish was a double, walk (one of three on the day) and a single to give up a run in the fourth inning. Baumeister did a good job of shaking off the FGCU start and getting back to form.

Unfortunately for Baumeister, but fortunately for the Seminoles, run support wouldn’t come until after he left the game. Colton Vincent put a one out single into centerfield and moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. Cade Bush knocked him in with a single of his own and moved to second on the throw to tie the game. Nander DeSedas was able to put the ‘Noles in the lead with a double, scoring Bush.

Pitt would strike back against Connor Whittaker in the top of the eighth with a couple of singles and a ground out scoring a run to knot the game at two. Teams would trade a scoreless ninth to enter extra innings at 2-2. Whittaker pitched a strong 5.1 innings in all giving up the lead in the eighth but only allowing the one run and striking out another nine Panthers.