FSU baseball: Noles look to clinch Clemson series in rubber match

FSU baseball (27-19, 18-14 ACC) lost game two against Clemson. They’ll look to clinch the series win Sunday in the rubber match.

All of the things I mentioned the Noles needed to avoid in the preview took place in Saturday’s loss.

Nole pitchers walked four batters and hit three more with pitches while allowing 10 hits(four of them home runs).

The FSU defense also had a costly error in the seventh inning when Clemson scored three runs. FSU batters had nine hits but also struck out 16 times (five looking), and that’s why Mike Martin Jr. got thrown out of the game for the second time this year.

The umpire behind the plate had an incredibly wide strike zone, but I have to admit he was consistent with it the entire game.

Conor Grady, who usually starts on Sunday, got the start in game two and went 5.1 innings after getting roughed up for three runs in the top of the first.

If Messick can pitch like normal, he’ll give the Noles an excellent shot at winning the rubber match.

FSU isn’t sure who’ll get the start on the mound for Sunday’s game. Mike Martin Jr. said Parker Messick had a good bullpen session and could be an option on Sunday. Messick has been dealing with a back issue and didn’t start game one like normal.

If it’s not Messick, we could see a version of Johnny Wholestaff(lots of different pitchers) or Carson Montgomery, since he didn’t get out of the first inning of his start earlier in the week.

The FSU offense had nine hits (two home runs) but also left nine runners on base. They have to do a better job of capitalizing in those situations.

The bottom of the lineup continues to be automatic outs. Here’s to hoping Messick is healthy enough to get the start and the Noles can win their fifth series in a row.