Florida State Beats Florida Gulf Coast 8-3
By Patrik Nohe
Gage Smith pitches at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, FL (photo courtesy of Travis Register)
The no. 1 ranked Florida State Seminoles continued to stay hot on Tuesday night with an 8-3 win over over the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles.
Despite a slow start — and without the services of DJ Stewart (suspended) and Justin Gonzales (sick) — the Seminoles (23-5, 10-2 ACC) used a six-run eighth inning to propel them to victory.
The game started inauspiciously enough for the Seminoles. Peter Miller lasted just an inning and a third, giving up two hits and three runs (two earned) while walking two, hitting one and striking out a pair.
He was relieved by Dylan Silva with a man on second and one out in the top of the second inning, the Seminoles trailing by three.
After a rocky start to the game, Silva provided Florida State with the stability they needed on the mound, allowing the Seminole bats to get going in the meantime. The sophomore LHP worked three and two-thirds innings, gave up a hit and a walk, while allowing no runs and striking out four.
Meanwhile, Florida State started scratching away at the Eagles’ three run lead. Jameis Winston led the third inning off with a walk and later scored the Seminoles’ first run of the game on a John Sansone ground out.
The next inning John Nogowski led off with a first pitch home run to make it 3-2. Florida State looked to be gearing up for a big inning, but with men on the corners and one out Jameis Winston was called out on batter’s interference after he allegedly obstructed the throw of the catcher on an attempted steal by Casey Smith. Winston — who nearly came out of his shoes on the swing — didn’t appear to stray from the batter’s box but was called out nonetheless.
This brought out Mike Martin to argue the call, but to no avail. Danny De La Calle was retired next and the inning ended without further damage from the Seminoles.
Gage Smith (4-0) came on for Florida State in the sixth and navigated through the FGCU lineup with ease. He worked the next three innings, giving up just a single hit as he faced the minimum and held the Eagles scoreless.
That effort would be good enough to pick him up the win too, in the bottom of the 8th, Florida State’s offense broke through and plated six runs.
Josh Delph lead off with a single, then Sansone wore an inside pitch and the Eagles headed to the bullpen with two on and nobody out.
After the switch Jose Brizuela dropped down a bunt to load the bases and send FGCU into their bullpen once again. And once again the change did little to stop the Seminoles, Nogowski walked next, scoring Delph and tying the game at three.
Two batters later, Casey Smit singled in two more and broke the game wide open. The next three hitters — Ladsen Montgomery, Winston and De La Calle — all added an RBI each as well as Florida State took an 8-3 lead that would prove decisive.
Winston came on to work the ninth and give Florida State their 23rd win of the season.
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