Explosive Bats Propel No. 11 FSU Baseball to Series Win
In a match-up that featured two top 15 teams in the country it would only be appropriate for the series to to end in a winner-takes-all Sunday rubber match. To recap, UVA doubled up Florida State’s score in game one for the win. The ‘Noles responded with a flurry of home runs to take game two and force the rubber match.
Coming into the weekend series the ‘Noles led the country in walks. That said, Florida State saw first inning walks by both Taylor Walls and DJ Stewart that would put two on for Quincy Nieporte. Nieporte promptly ripped a single to left field that scored Walls from second base. This run gave FSU the first lead of the game by a score of 1-0. Minutes later, freshman Dylan Busby stepped up to the plate for FSU. Without hesitation Busby laid into the first pitch he saw and watched it soar out of the park to give Florida State the 4-0 advantage.
An attempt at a response to FSU’s four first inning runs was met with some success as the Cavaliers were able to slice into the deficit with a run of their own to make it a 4-1 ballgame through one inning of play.
This score would hold until the fourth inning. Following a four pitch walk by DJ Stewart, Nieporte plated a run with a double to the gap in right center field to give FSU the 5-1 edge.
More from Chop Chat
- FSU football: Q&A with Clemson experts at Rubbing The Rock 2023
- FSU football: 3 reasons Noles beat Clemson, two reasons they lose
- FSU football: QB Brock Glenn out with an injury for ‘a few weeks’
- FSU football: Which TV announcers will call Clemson game?
- FSU football: Is Jared Verse ready to make an impact versus Clemson?
Throughout the duration of the game freshman right-handed pitcher Cobi Johnson’s poise and consistency on the mound contained multiple UVA rally attempts. Not as much can be said for Virginia’s Brandon Waddell who was pulled after just five innings of play. Waddell allowed six hits, five runs, and five walks. Waddell struck out just four Florida State batters.
Waddell’s relief pitchers weren’t much better. To this point, Alec Bettinger allowed the bases loaded walk in the seventh inning to give FSU the 6-1 lead.
Succeeding this walk, DJ Stewart stepped up to the plate and unloaded on a 2-2 count to plate four runs on the decisive grand slam that put an exclamation point on the series victory. The grand slam put Florida State ahead 10-1, and essentially allowed the ‘Noles to make defensive substitutions in the middle of the eighth inning.
With perhaps an encore in order for the Yulee, Florida native this happened in the ninth inning.
DJ STEWART - EN FUEGO. Just belts a two-run shot to right for his third HR of the series, ninth of the season and 21st of his career
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) March 22, 2015
This pair of home runs in back-to-back appearances would extend the lead to 12-1.
After substitutions FSU would plate in one final run to end all scoring and give Florida State the 13-1 lead. Sunday’s win gave the ‘Noles the series victory over the Virginia Cavaliers.
The win would see the ‘Noles improve to 19-6 (7-2 ACC) on the season. The loss dropped UVA to 14-7 (3-6 ACC).
Florida State will be back in action again on Wednesday, March 25th for its midweek game at Dick Howser Stadium against Alabama State. First pitch at Mike Martin Field is set for 6:00 p.m.