FSU baseball: Elijah Cabell pinch hit delivers win over Wake Forest

FSU baseball (12-6, 8-5 ACC) wins their seventh consecutive with a comeback 2-1 victory over Wake Forest in the series opener.

FSU starting pitcher Parker Messick didn’t deserve to lose the game with his performance. However, that’s where the game was heading when he exited after six innings.

Messick allowed three hits and one earned run, with 11 strikeouts and three walks. The FSU offense was disastrous through the first six innings and resembled the offense of 2-3 weeks ago with double-digit strikeouts.

FSU batters struck out 16 times and only had five hits, and walked seven times. However, none of the hits were bigger than Elijah Cabell’s pinch-hit two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the Noles losing 1-0.

Mike Martin Jr. subbed Cabell for Parker Messick, who had struck out three times against left-handed pitching on the night. It was the right move with another lefty on the mound.

The FSU bullpen was lights out, striking out the side in the seventh and eighth innings. Davis Hare closed the game out in the ninth.

Parting Thoughts

It was a great outing for Parker Messick, and I’m relieved he didn’t get the loss because he didn’t deserve it. The FSU offense is back to undisciplined swings and wasting opportunities with runners on base. They stranded 10 runners on the night.

I must say this offense hasn’t been the same since Logan Lacey exited the lineup after injuring his leg against Miami. He was on fire along with Robby Martin and Matheu Nelson, and the offense misses his presence.

The Wake Forest starting pitcher was throwing 95+, but FSU batters swung at way too many pitches outside the strike zone.

It was good to see the Noles show some grit and gain another come-from-behind victory, but it wasn’t a good offensive performance at all.

Here’s to hoping Lacey returns to the lineup soon and they swing the bats better in Saturday’s game. The first pitch will be at 2 p.m. ET.