Poor execution and mistakes cost FSU baseball against NC State in series opener

FSU baseball (17-4, 3-1 ACC) saw its 12-game home winning streak come to an end in a 6-4 loss against NC State on Friday night. It was a lot of small mistakes and poor execution that doomed the Noles.

Wes Mendes started the game strong, and FSU led off the bottom of the first with a double by Brayden Dowd, only to see the next three batters strike out on 12 pitches. NC State scored an unearned run in the top of the second, and FSU answered with a run to tie the game in the bottom of the frame.

Wes Mendes allowed a lead-off walk in the top of the fourth, and of course that runner scored to give the Wolfpack a 2-1 lead. However, Myles Bailey redeemed himself after two poor at-bats earlier in the game to launch a three-run home run to the opposite field to give the Noles a 4-2 lead.

Unfortunately, Wes Mendes allowed three straight singles before exiting the game with one out in the top of the sixth. John Abraham entered the game to strike out the first batter, only to allow a two-out double to give the Wolfpack a 5-4 lead.

The pitching was good enough, but there were too many strikeouts (15) from the offense and bad situational hitting

FSU had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the eighth, when Myles Bailey led off the inning with a walk, and Kelvyn Paulino sent a single to right field to give FSU runners on first and second with NO outs. Link Jarrett decided to pinch hit for Brody DeLamielleure with Chase Williams. Williams tried to fake a bunt slash at the first pitch and fouled it off. The second pitch was out of the strike zone, but called a strike, and Williams swung at a ball in the dirt to strike out. I get what Jarrett was trying to do, but that was a poor decision with Williams not playing much lately. If he's not bunting, why is he pinch hitting? The next batter struck out, and the final out was a groundout to end the threat.  

That’s two innings where FSU had a runner on second with no outs and failed to score. A lead-off walk cost them a run, and that’s the difference when playing good ball teams. FSU will look to even the series on Saturday at 2 p.m.