Florida State Seminoles baseball rolls past No. 5 Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BVM) 鈥� The Florida State Seminole baseball team was able to get their second straight win. This win came over the No. 5 ranked Florida Gators on March 16. The Seminoles were led by freshman pitcher Carson Montgomery who struck out nine batters in 4.2 innings, and sophomore outfielder Robby Martin who had two home runs and five RBIs. Martin鈥檚 outstanding game was his second straight game with five RBIs.
Florida State has had an up-and-down start to the regular season thus far, starting the season with a 7-6 record through their first 13 games. Although Tuesday night鈥檚 game was a big step in the right direction. It was the first time the Seminoles have beaten the Gators in Tallahassee since 2015, and they did so handily.
In his third start of the season, Montgomery looked like the he is. The freshman struck out nine batters while only walking three and allowing two runs. While Montgomery had a strong performance, he was not the only one who performed against No. 5 Florida. The Florida State pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts, only allowing four hits and two earned runs in nine innings.
The Seminoles鈥� offensive performance showed just how dangerous the lineup can be on any given night. Florida State scored 10 runs in the game, thanks to Robby Martin鈥檚 two home runs, with a two-run shot in the sixth that was followed by Matheu Nelson鈥檚 team-leading fifth home run of the season.聽
Florida State ended the game with 13 hits, 12 of which came from the 2-6 spots in the lineup, with Logan Lacey and Robby Martin each racking up three hits. Parker Messick and Wyatt Crowell each drove in two runs.
The win was one of Florida State鈥檚 largest wins against Florida. Their 10 runs scored was the most against Florida since 2010. It was also the largest margin of victory for Florida State in the series since 2008.
Florida State head coach Mike Martin Jr. was impressed with Montgomery鈥檚 performance in the Tuesday night win.
鈥淗e has a chance to be really special, and I don鈥檛 think he had his best stuff,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what his strike percentage was, but he made pitches when he needed to, and again, he鈥檚 a difference-maker.鈥�
The Seminoles have shown to bounce back the past few games, winning three of their last four games against two top-ranked teams.
鈥淭hey know that you know we weren鈥檛 where we’re going to be, and they kept going, and they kept pushing,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淭he energy in the dugout, guys feeling the love from their teammates is really powerful stuff, and I鈥檓 really liking what I鈥檓 hearing and seeing in the dugout and the comradery. It鈥檚 a loud locker room right now, and it should be.鈥�
Head coach Mike Martin Jr. was also impressed with the leadership that redshirt sophomore catcher Matheu Nelson has shown this season.
鈥淵ou know the longer the guys are in the program, the more comfortable they feel, and that block and retrieve and accurate throw to second really kind of said we’re not having this,鈥� Martin stated. 鈥淲e’re going to play hard nose and fundamentally sound, and he鈥檚 invaluable.鈥�
In the win, Florida State showed that their bullpen can come in and hold their own against top teams throughout the games.
鈥淐hase has that calming effect, you know the old Jesse Orosco if you will for the old-timers in that you know what you鈥檙e going to get, and you don鈥檛 like the way things are going it takes him five pitches to get ready, and he鈥檚 in the ballgame, and that鈥檚 what he does,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淗is maturity and leadership is second to none.鈥�
The Florida State Seminoles carried over the momentum against No. 8 ranked Miami. They swept the Hurricanes, following the win over Florida. The Seminoles start a three-game series against North Carolina on April 2.聽
