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FSU Baseball Recap: Noles Get Two Needed Wins Over Florida Gulf Coast

By Ty Ragans

Apr 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a baseball bat laying on the field during the Arizona Diamondbacks game against the San Francisco Giants during opening day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a baseball bat laying on the field during the Arizona Diamondbacks game against the San Francisco Giants during opening day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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FSU baseball limped into a two game set with FGCU on a four game losing streak. The Noles came up big and took both games against the Eagles.

FSU baseball entered Tuesday night on a four game losing streak and desperate for a couple wins. It didn’t happen in the most conventional fashion, but the Noles did what they had to do to take both games from FGCU. The first on a walk-off double for a 7-6 victory, and the second was a 3-2 win in a game that lasted just five innings due to weather.

Tuesday

Boy did FSU baseball need a spark this week after being swept by UNC. Jackson Lueck’s clutch hitting was that spark and the Noles were able to grab a win in dramatic fashion on Tuesday. It was a wonderful baseball game to watch if you were neutral. The game featured four lead changes through the first six innings. FSU got the fifth and final lead change in the bottom of the ninth when Jackson Lueck knocked in Taylor Walls on a walk-off double for the 7-6 victory.

Andrew Karp got the start on the mound for FSU baseball and had a solid outing. Karp went 4 innings and allowed three earned runs. The Noles used five relievers to combine for the next five innings.

Clayton Kwiatowski impressed out of the bullpen, he came into the game with a 2-0 count and managed to get a strike out. Kwiatkowski went 1.2 innings and allowed one hit while striking out three and walking zero.

Closer Drew Carlton pitched the ninth inning allowing just one hit and recording two strike outs. Carlton was credited with the win and his record now stands at 2-2.

Mike Martin was pleased with the way his team played on defense after an abysmal weekend in the field, telling Seminoles.com:

"“I feel a lot better than I’ve been feeling,” head coach Mike Martin said. “We did a lot of things right. We struggled in some areas on the mound, but overall, our defense was excellent.”"

The Noles bats woke up in this one as they racked up 11 hits on the night. Leading the way for FSU was sophomore Jackson Lueck who was 3-5 with 3 RBI. Lueck came to the plate three times with a runner in scoring position and showed his clutch gene to come through in all of them.

Cal Raleigh came up with a solo home run early in the game. Quincy Nieporte and Dylan Busby both came through with big RBI’s for the Noles. Rhett Aplin was 2-4 on the night and Drew Mendoza recorded his first hit as a Nole with an infield single.

FSU baseball found some good fortune in the bottom of the ninth and they took advantage of it. FGCU dropped a routine pop up in foul territory off the bat of Taylor Walls. Walls singled on the next pitch, the events that followed can be seen below.

Wednesday

FSU baseball may have found some good fortune when Wednesday’s game was called after 4 1/2 innings due to weather. The game lasted long enough for FSU to get the win.

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Will Zirzow made the start for FSU on the mound and went three innings allowing four hits and two earned runs with five strike outs and no walks.

Zirzow was replaced by Grant Stewart who allowed just one hit and recorded four strike outs in two innings. Stewart finished the game and earned his first win as a Seminole by coming up with a huge strike out with the bases juiced and two outs.

The Noles fell behind early but once again fought back for the win in this one. Jackson Lueck stayed hot for the Noles going 1-2 with his out being a tough luck line drive.

Cal Raleigh continues to show signs of life, he was 1-2 with a triple and an RBI. Dylan Busby was 1-2 with a big RBI and Drew Mendoza was able to grab his second career hit.

The two wins were FSU’s first against teams in the RPI top 50 this season. Entering the week FSU was 0-7 against the RPI top 50, they’re now 2-7 against such teams (FGCU was number 29 entering Tuesday).

The two wins improve FSU’s record to 20-11 (6-6 ACC).

It can not be overstated how badly FSU needed these wins. However, there is still work to be done for the Noles and that starts this weekend with a trip to Raleigh to take on NC State. Check in Friday for our series preview.

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