FSU Baseball Recap: Noles Take Critical ACC Series Against Clemson

FSU baseball came up with a critical ACC series victory at home against number four Clemson – It was the first step towards saving the Noles season.

FSU baseball was in desperate need of a big series win, a feather in their cap, a star on their resume. With two wins out of three against number four Clemson, the Noles finally got their big series win.

That is not to say their isn’t more work to be done. FSU baseball still has a hill to climb to make up for their woes in the first half of the season, but this was certainly the first step towards righting the ship.

Things were looking for hair numerous times in the series as they fell behind in the first inning of each game, but they fought back and displayed a will to win. Saturday’s game saw the Noles erase a 10-1 deficit only to lose 12-10 in the ninth. On Saturday FSU played a great all around game for the 7-3 victory. And in Sunday’s game the Noles went back and forth with their division rivals for the 7-6 victory.

Saturday

Saturday was supposed to be a special day for FSU baseball as they retired legend JD Drew’s jersey before first pitch. Things didn’t go as planned due to six straight two out doubles for Clemson in the top of the 2nd. By the bottom of the 4th inning FSU was down 10-1, but that’s when they got the bats going.

FSU would steadily chip away at the lead scoring nine runs over the next four innings to tie the game at 10. Unfortunately two errors in the top of the 9th led to a Seth Beer bloop single and Clemson escaped 12-10.

Cole Sands struggled on the mound with a line of 1.2 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 BB. Clayton Kwiatkowski gave up three earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched and then FSU had four relievers combine to give up just one more earned run.

Matt Henderson was the top hitter with a 3-4 night with 4 RBI. Taylor Walls was 3-6 with an RBI. Jackson Lueck hit a home run in his return and Dylan Busby returned to the lineup to go 2-4 with 3 RBI.

Saturday’s box score can be found here.

Sunday

Sunday was one of the more complete games for FSU baseball this season. Stud lefty Tyler Holton gave up a run in the first but FSU took the lead back thanks to a lead off homer from Taylor Walls and a two run bomb from Quincy Nieporte. Dylan Busby would add a three run home run and that seven runs would be all FSU needed.

The seven runs were all FSU needed because Tyler Holton again was lights out. Holton’s line read 8 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 9 K. Alec Byrd pitched the ninth and allowed one hit while recording two strike outs.

Sunday’s box score can be found here.

Monday

I’m sure ESPNU was happy to be carrying Monday’s rubber match because it was a barn burner. You guessed it, Clemson once again got off to a first inning lead, this time on a Seth Beer three run homer. A couple of costly defensive mistakes from Clemson allowed FSU to get two runs back in the bottom of the third. FSU took the 5-3 lead the next inning on a two out bases clearing double from Dylan Busby.

Clemson answered in the 6th with two solo home runs off of Drew Carlton to tie the game. Not to be out done, Cal Raleigh crushed a home run to give FSU the 6-5 lead in the 7th, a bases loaded walk would extend the lead to 7-5. FSU gave up one more in the 8th but Alec Byrd came up big down the stretch. FSU took the game 7-6 and the series 2-1.

Drew Parrish settled in after his rough start, his final line was 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K’s. Drew Carlton didn’t have his sharpest outing as he gave up the two solo home runs. Alec Byrd came through with maybe the biggest performance of his career. Byrd was phenomenal against a potent Clemson lineup and pitched three innings, gave up three hits and allowed no earned runs or walks.

Leading hitters for FSU were Dylan Busby who went 1-4 with three big RBI, Cal Raleigh was 1-4 with a big homer, and Quincy Nieporte was 2-4 with an RBI.

The box score for Monday’s game can be found here.

Ramifications

FSU baseball isn’t out of the woods yet but a series win against number four Clemson is a big time resume booster. Earlier this week I wrote about what FSU needs to save the season, one of those needs were to get healthy, well the FSU lineup was fully healthy this weekend and performed at a high level against good pitching.

Another need I pointed out was the need of the veterans to step up. Taylor Walls had a 3-6 day as well as a lead off home run this weekend. Cal Raleigh crushed a huge go-ahead home run in the series clincher, and Dylan Busby went 5-12 with 9 big RBI this weekend.

The Noles attempted to utilize Drew Carlton more effectively and things just didn’t work out but we should see him continue to be used differently moving forward.

The big weekend from Alec Byrd is encouraging as FSU has to have the bullpen step up to make a run to the post season.

Next up is a Wednesday home game against Stetson, check back in on Wednesday for the game preview.

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