FSU baseball: Wyatt Crowell and offense power past FGCU

FSU baseball (8-3) needed the bats to show up for the third straight game as the Noles defeated Florida Gulf Coast 14-8 to salvage the series.

FGCU touched FSU starting pitcher Carson Montgomery early for seven earned runs in only 2.1 innings.

However, relief pitcher Wyatt Crowell came in and shut down the high-powered offense for 5.2 innings before getting pulled from the game in the top of the ninth inning. Crowell had seven strikeouts and two walks.

The FSU offense pounded out 16 hits. Colton Vincent, Ben Barrett, and James Tibbs had three hits each and eight RBI between the three. Jaime Ferrer had two hits and three RBI, including a monster home run.

Nander De Sedas had a huge two-run home run. Cam Smith has two RBI, and Cade Bush went 2-4.

The Noles showed a lot of resolve after losing the first two games in the series, especially with FGCU scoring first and then retaking the lead in the top of the second a second time after the Noles answered in the bottom of the first inning.

The performance of Wyatt Crowell can’t be understated, with how FGCU swung the bats in the series. He was the epitome of good pitching shuts down good hitting. However, Link Jarrett has some decisions to make with the starting pitching rotation.

FSU starting pitchers went 2.1 innings in all three games, and that’s not going to get it done with a shallow bullpen. They need starting pitchers to throw strikes and eat up innings. The Noles will take on Bethune Cookman in mid-week action before beginning ACC play next weekend.

I think taxing the bullpen in mid-week action against Jacksonville played a part in their struggles this weekend. Here’s to hoping they can ease past this mid-week game and go into conference play near 100 percent.  Great job of not laying down and allowing FGCU to sweep them at home.