FSU baseball makes light work of opponent who usually plays them tough

The Jacksonville Dolphins usually play Florida State baseball tough in the non-conference schedule. However, that wasn’t the case on Tuesday night as the Noles easily went on the road and defeated the Dolphins 13-3 in eight innings.

Payton Manca got his first start of the season and pitched three innings on 50 pitches. He allowed three hits, one walk, and had two strikeouts. John Abraham looked better in relief than he did over the weekend. He pitched two innings, allowed a hit, and had three strikeouts.

Chase Williams had a big impact in the game. He had two hits and two RBI, but it was his walk, two stolen bases, and scoring on a wild pitch on three straight pitches that showed how his speed can be a game-changer.

The story of the game was the FSU offense. They scored runs in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. The top of the lineup delivered big-time. Bryan Dowd, Noah Sheffield, Myles Bailey, and Cal Fisher all drove in runs. Dowd, Sheffield, and Fisher had two hits.

FSU batters drew 10 walks, 11 hits, and only struckout four times. Jacksonville didn’t do itself any favors by committing four errors, coupled with all the walks from the Dolphin pitchers.

If Payton Manca can be a consistent mid-week starter for the Noles, that will go a long way to saving the FSU bullpen for weekend action. He looks to be right on schedule after an excellent showing in the Cape this summer. Noah Sheffield is making it so that Link Jarrett won’t be able to take him out because of his bat.

There are lots of good signs through three games, but the competition will get stiffer this weekend out in Texas.