Chop Chat
Fansided

FSU Baseball sweeps Richmond in home finale for Mike Martin

By Jason Parker

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - AUGUST 4: Coach Mike Martin of the Florida State Seminoles throws out a ceremonial first pitch during pre-game ceremonies before play against the San Francisco Giants August 4, 2013 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays won 4 - 3. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - AUGUST 4: Coach Mike Martin of the Florida State Seminoles throws out a ceremonial first pitch during pre-game ceremonies before play against the San Francisco Giants August 4, 2013 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays won 4 - 3. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

FSU baseball came back from two runs down to complete the three game sweep and send their legendary head coach out a winner in his final home game.

After starting things off a few hours early due to the possible threat of weather, the FSU baseball team took the field set for their final home game of the 2019 regular season – but, even more important than that, it was set to be the final game in the amazing 40 season career for the Seminoles’ long time head coach, Mike Martin.

After four decades of leading the Seminoles into action each and every game, Martin’s finale was scheduled against the Richmond Spiders – and like everything else this season, there were good times and bad ones but the Noles took an epic inning and the 7-2 victory in a rain shortened game inside Dick Howser Stadium.

After giving up two runs early on, FSU baseball still trailed in the bottom of the fifth inning until two of the team’s biggest stars – Mike Salvatore and Drew Mendoza – hit back to back homers that gave the Seminoles the lead as part of a six run inning for the Noles.

FSU baseball added another run to stop the scoring while the pitching staff continued to do the same with the Spiders heading into the eighth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, the rain clouds opened up and the game was called with the Seminoles getting a much needed sweep to move their record to 34-18 on the season.

After the game, Martin took to the field and said goodbye to the fans before a video played showing his longtime wife, Carol, giving her thought on the end of the era for FSU baseball in what Martin called in his postgame press conference the “most emotional moment” of their marriage.

Martin’s time inside Dick Howser Stadium at this point ends with the FSU baseball alum having 2,021 wins in his career that started all the way back during the 1980 season that has included 16 trips to the College World Series over that span – twice playing for the national title (1986 and 1999).

Now, there is a chance that Martin could end up coaching in Tallahassee in the postseason if the Seminoles can at least win two out of their three games next weekend at Louisville as well as win the ACC tournament for the third straight season.

But, for one day inside Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium, the fans cheered and the man in the No. 11 jersey enjoyed a day that was all about him.

Home/FSU Baseball