FSU baseball: Parker Messick and offense dominate Samford

FSU baseball (4-1, 0-0 ACC) got back on the winning side of things with a 7-0 shutout win in the first game against Samford Friday night.

Parker Messick was dominant, going seven innings, striking out a career-high 13, and only allowing one hit.

The FSU offense didn’t start particularly well in the first inning as the strikeout parade continued from the Jacksonville game.

However, the Noles scored first in the bottom of the second inning after Colt Vincent singled and scored on an error by the Samford centerfielder.

Logan Lacey hit a no-doubt solo shot in the bottom of the third inning, and FSU would add another run that inning to make it 3-0 after three innings.

That’s all the Noles would need with Messick dominating, but the offense continued to churn out hits with the bottom of the lineup leading the way. Jordan Carrion, Brett Roberts, Colton Vincent, and Treyton Rank had two hits for the Noles.

Carrion and Vincent had an RBI, while Rank had two. Every FSU starter had a hit in the game. The Noles had 14 hits total, 11 strikeouts, four walks, and one batter hit by pitch. My only gripe is they left 11 runners on base, but the offense was 2-2 on stolen bases.

Kyle McMullen relieved Messick in the top of the eighth inning and set the Bulldogs down in order. Joe Charles came on in the ninth and recorded an out and a walk before leaving the game with an apparent injury. Conner Whitaker came on in relief to record the final two outs. FSU pitchers had 15 strikeouts total, one walk, and only allowed one hit. The defense had a clean sheet and a couple of nice plays by Jordan Carrion at shortstop.

Saturday’s game will be Military Saturday, and the first pitch will take place at 2 p.m. ET. The game will air on the ACCNX channel. Reigning ACC Pitcher of the Week, Bryce Hubbart, will take the mound for the Noles and look to one-up Parker Messick’s performance.