FSU baseball: Offense explodes past Bethune-Cookman

FSU baseball (11-5, 2-1 ACC) saw its offense explode for 17 runs Wednesday night to power past Bethune-Cookman 17-9 for their third straight win.

Pitcher Carson Montgomery picked up his second win as he pitched five innings for the second consecutive time. He wasn’t sharp, as he allowed two earned runs(five total), two hits, two walks, two hit batters, three strikeouts, and two wild pitches.

Montgomery threw 86 pitches, but the positive is he has surpassed the five-inning mark in back-to-back outings.

He still struggles with focus and confidence issues. When things are going well, he has some of the best stuff on the team. However, once something negative happens, it’s hard for him to keep his composure, and he usually falls apart.

His mindset and pitching efficiency are a major issue he has to build on if he wants to become a weekend starter next year. Bethune Cookman’s pitching isn’t great, but it was good to see the FSU offense score runs at will. Logan Lacey, Alex Toral, Reese Albert, and Jackson Greene had two hits.

Greene had two RBIs, Toral had five RBIs, including a three-run home run. James Tibbs and Brock Mathis had home runs, with Mathis totaling three RBIs. Lacey and Brett Roberts scored three runs each. FSU had 16 hits and 12 walks, with 11 strikeouts.

However, at least three of those were guys that rarely get to play. The only negative from the game is the FSU defense committed four errors and Andrew Armstrong’s appearance to close the game.

The FSU bullpen went four innings and allowed no runs, one hits, four walks, and struck out six before Armstrong entered the game in the top of the ninth. He allowed three hits, two walks, four earned runs(including a three-run home run) with two strikeouts. It was good to see Wyatt Crowell and Jack Baumeister work scoreless innings as they have struggled of late. They will be needed later in the season.

The Noles will face a major upgrade when they host NC State in a three-game conference series beginning Friday.