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FSU Baseball Preview: Noles Look to Bounce Back at Virginia Tech

By Ty Ragans

May 12, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; A detailed view of a baseball glove and bat before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; A detailed view of a baseball glove and bat before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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FSU baseball is on a two game losing streak and they’ll look to right the ship in a three game series against the Virginia Tech Hokies this weekend.

FSU baseball is in the middle of a tough road trip. It’s a trip that has already seen the Noles drop two games in the midweek. The 1-0 loss at Florida coupled with a 5-2 loss at Florida Gulf Coast brought FSU’s record to 13-5 on the season.

It’s a long season that is sure to have it’s ups and downs, but it’s important that FSU is able to stop the bleeding and have a bounce back performance in Blacksburg this weekend. More than anything it’s an important weekend for the Florida State lineup after the offensive struggles in the midweek.

After scoring just two runs on nine hits between the two games, its essential that the Seminoles perform well offensively and are able to regain some confidence at the plate.

Last Time Out

After entering their spring break road trip ranked number one overall by d1baseball.com FSU lost two straight games.

The first of the two losses came at the hands of the rival Florida Gators. The 1-0 loss marked the third straight game that FSU has lost to UF. In that three game losing streak FSU has been shutout for 31 consecutive innings.

FSU was held to four hits and no walks on the night. Walks are a big part of FSU’s strategy and UF has done a nice job limiting those walks in their three game winning streak against FSU. Andrew Karp was wonderful once again on the mound and the hard luck loser in the 1-0 game.

On Wednesday FSU had the opportunity to rebound with a game at number 22 Florida Gulf Coast. It seemed as if FSU had worked out their offensive kinks when they scored two runs in the top of the first.

The 2-0 lead was a short one and the only lead FSU would have for the entire game, FGCU was able to match with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the first inning. FSU was able to use their patience against FGCU to get base runners in the way of nine walks. Unfortunately, FSU did not take advantage of said base runners as they stranded 15 on their way to a 5-2 loss.

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Opponent Preview

The Virginia Tech Hokies got off to a hot start in 2017 with an 8-1 record in their first nine games. Since then, the Hokies have limped their way to a 3-7 record in their last 10 games; bringing their overall record to 11-8 on the season.

Virginia Tech opened up ACC play last weekend with a three game series at Duke, the Hokies lost the first two games but won the series finale to give them a 1-2 start in the ACC.

Junior southpaw Packy Naughton is the Hokies Friday starter. Through four starts in 2017 Naughton is 1-2 with a 6.63 ERA and 24 strikeouts to eleven walks while giving up 29 hits in 19 innings of work.

On Saturday FSU is likely to face 6’6 Junior RHP Andrew McDonald. On the season McDonald has started four games and owns a 6.48 ERA with 29 strikeouts to seven walks and 36 hits allowed in 25 innings pitched.

Redshirt Junior Nick Anderson looks to be the Sunday starter for Virginia Tech. Through three starts this season, Anderson is sporting a 2.35 ERA. In 23 innings of work Anderson has given up 19 hits with 19 strike outs to 11 walks.

Virginia Tech comes into the series with an impressive .300 batting average as a team. The headliner of the Virginia Tech lineup is junior infielder Sam Fragale. Fragale is rocking a .400 batting average with a whopping eight home runs and 28 RBI on the season.

Right behind Fragale on the stat sheet is sophomore infielder Jack Owens. Owens batting average is just slightly worse than Fragale’s at .393. Owens however does not have the same type of power as he has just one home run on the year and 10 RBI.

Virginia Tech has five regular starters with batting averages well over the .300 mark. As a team the Hokies have 33 home runs through just 19 games.

The powerful Virginia Tech lineup will be a good test for an FSU pitching staff that has performed well on the year.

How to Watch

All three games will start at one PM this weekend. The first two can be heard on 106.1 FM locally in Tallahassee or via the FSU game day app. Sunday’s game can be seen on the ACC Network Extra or heard through the same mediums as Friday and Saturday’s games.

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