FSU baseball: Big runs late send Noles past Jacksonville Dolphins

FSU baseball improved to 3-0 this season with a 7-4 road victory over the Jacksonville Dolphins. The Noles jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and added two more runs in the top of the fifth after Jacksonville scored a run in the bottom of the fourth. Daniel Cantu had a big two-out single to drive in two runs in the first, and James Tibbs and Jaime Ferrer had an RBI in the top of the fifth to make it 4-1. Conner Whittaker cruised through the first five innings, allowing two earned runs, three hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. He exited in the bottom of the sixth with one out after allowing a walk and a triple. Carson Dorsey appeared in relief and allowed a walk and two hits to allow the Dolphins to tie the game at 4-4. However, Dorsey was lights out after that, only allowing two hits, three walks, and 10 strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

It was the first win of his career. The FSU offense broke through in the top of the ninth for the go-ahead and eventual winning runs. Cam Smith doubled, James Tibbs walked, and Jaime Ferrer singled to drive in the go-ahead run. Tibbs scored on a wild pitch, and Marco Dinges had a sacrifice fly to make it 7-4. Smith led the offense, going 3-5, Ferrer went 2-4, and Cantu went 1-4 with two RBI. It was a strong game for the Noles overall against a quality team. The offense had four stolen bases and five walks against seven strikeouts. Whittaker and Dorsey combined for 16 strikeouts five walks, and three earned runs. The FSU defense committed two errors, which is something that has plagued them every game so far. The Noles will be back in action this weekend in a three-game series against Western Carolina.