FSU baseball needs better pitching/defense to salvage FGCU series

FSU baseball (7-3) has scored 18 runs in the first two games of the series against Florida Gulf Coast but is one game away from getting swept at home.

It’s crazy how quickly things can change in a week. However, I’ve long said this team will go as far as its pitching can take it. The good news is as poorly as they have played, FSU has had opportunities to win both games.

The FSU defense has committed four errors in the first two games, and FSU pitchers have allowed eight walks and 14 earned runs(21 total runs allowed). FSU starting pitchers have each gone 2.1 innings in the first two games, which hasn’t helped a bullpen that got taxed in a midweek game against Jacksonville.

The frustrating thing is FGCU has done a lot of their damage with two outs in an inning where FSU pitchers were cruising. Those miscues have compounded with little things like not covering first base or not making the routine plays.

The offense has missed some major opportunities but has done a solid job battling back from huge deficits in both games. Listen, at the end of the day 18 runs should be enough to win both games. Now, FSU finds itself in the opposite position they were in last week when it had the opportunity to sweep TCU.

They didn’t show a sense of urgency and failed to capitalize on the opportunity. The question for Sunday’s game is, will they lay down against an offense that’s lit up FSU pitching?

The Noles will turn to Carson Montgomery, on the mound and he needs to give the Noles a quality start with a bullpen that has a lot of miles on it this week.

If he can do that and the defense makes the routine plays, I think FSU can salvage the final game in the series.