FSU Baseball Recap: Noles Rebound With Weekend Sweep of Samford
By Ty Ragans
![Feb 14, 2017; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; a general view of a baseball bat and glove on the field during New York Mets spring training workouts at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports Feb 14, 2017; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; a general view of a baseball bat and glove on the field during New York Mets spring training workouts at Tradition Field. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f525cbdf4e94644889cd9bcbdf55720066b62a34871d55b3d4530aec8505b60e.jpg)
After FSU baseball had a disappointing loss in a mid-week game against South Florida, they responded with a convincing sweep of the Samford Bulldogs.
It was an all-around performance from the FSU baseball team as they hit, pitched, and played great defense on their way to an easy sweep against Samford. Mike Martin shook up the rotation a bit as he moved former Friday starter Drew Carlton to the closer role and gave freshman Drew Parrish his first start as a Seminole. With the way the Seminoles performed there were no save opportunities for Carlton but he did get his first work out of the pen on Sunday. The Noles won all three games comfortably.
Friday
With Carlton moved to the pen, sophomore Cole Sands took the reigns as the Friday starter for the Noles. Sands had a solid outing, going five innings, allowing two hits, two earned runs, and recording six strikeouts to two walks. Sands ultimately got the win to improve to 2-0 on the season.
The FSU offense wasted no time getting going Friday night as they posted up five runs in the first inning and followed that up with four more in the second inning. Rhett Aplin continued his hot start with a 4-5 night that included a home run and 4 RBI. Dylan Busby’s bat started to come to life as he went 2-3 with a home run and 4 RBI of his own. Ultimately the Noles came away with a 16-3 victory.
Saturday
Tyler Holton moved up a day to make a Saturday start against Samford. Holton was nothing short of spectacular. Holton showed great command and posted an impressive line of 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, and 11 K’s. The 11 strikeouts were a new career high for Holton, topping his previous high of nine, a mark he reached in the ACC tournament against Miami last season. Holton got the win to improve to 2-0. The knockout punch was delivered in the fifth inning by way of a monster-shot grand slam by Quincy Nieporte. The Noles won the game 8-0 to clinch the series victory.
Sunday
Freshman Drew Parrish got his first start as a Seminole on Sunday and the southpaw was impressive. Parrish finished with six solid innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run while recording 6 K’s and issuing 0 walks on his way to his first collegiate victory.
Jackson Lueck led the way for the FSU offense with his 5 RBI, 3 of which came on a bases clearing double off the left field wall. Freshman center fielder JC Flowers continued the hot start to his career as he went 2-3 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. The Noles won Sunday’s finale by a score of 13-4.
FSU will be in action again on Tuesday for their first road matchup with the Jacksonville University Dolphins. Be on the lookout for our game preview on Tuesday.