FSU baseball: Key takeaways from Samford series win

FSU baseball (5-2, 0-0 ACC) lost the Sunday game in extra innings but won the series against Samford over the weekend. Samford is a solid team that made the postseason last year, and it wasn’t inconceivable to see them win at least one game from the Noles.

The first two games saw FSU baseball dominate the Bulldogs in all phases of the game. FSU batters went 25 for 67 with seven extra-base hits while striking out 30 times and walking 10 times. They also had four stolen bases and left 19 runners stranded while scoring seven runs each game. FSU starting pitchers Parker Messick and Bryce Hubbart were lights out once again.

Messick pitched seven innings of one-hit ball with a career-high 13 strikeouts and one hit batter. Bryce Hubbart pitched six innings of four-hit ball with nine strikeouts and one walk. The relief pitchers went six innings, allowing one hit, one run, striking out eight, and allowing one walk. The only glaring thing was FSU committed three errors in the second game but overcame the blunders.

The third game saw both teams find the long ball, and Samford took advantage the most. Two of the three innings Samford scored began with lead-off walks. Ross Dunn pitched four innings with eight strikeouts, two walks, and allowed three hits and two earned runs. FSU led 3-2 going into the eighth inning, but Samford led off with a double and a single, with a run-scoring on a fielder’s choice to tie the game.

A solo home run gave Samford the lead, but James Tibbs solo shot tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. The game went into extra innings, with Samford leading off the 10th inning with a walk and back-to-back singles before hitting a three-run home run to put the game out of reach. FSU’s offense had eight hits and three walks with 12 strikeouts and only left four runners on base.

Takeaways

Parker Messick and Bryce Hubbart did their jobs, but FSU has to get more consistency from Ross Dunn on Sundays. His outing was much better than last week, but two walks in four innings are too many. Samford got some key hits Sunday and you have to tip your cap to them.

FSU’s offense hit the ball well overall, going 33 for 101 with four doubles, one triple, and four home runs in the three-game series. However, they need to cut down on errors (5), baserunning blunders, and strikeouts (42). They will return to action Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET with the game airing on ESPN+.