FSU baseball demolishes rival Florida 19-4, sweeping season series

No. 7 FSU baseball (27-5, 7-5 ACC) didn't get off to the best start against the Florida Gators Tuesday night before demolishing them 19-4 in seven innings. Florida's first two batters hit solo home runs to start the game, but the FSU offense answered emphatically in the bottom of the inning with six runs on six hits, an HBP, and an error. However, the Noles were only getting started as they ripped off five more runs in the bottom of the second, one run in the third, and five more in the bottom of the fourth to make it 17-3. Cam Smith went 3-4 with an RBI, James Tibbs went 2-3 with two RBI, Jaime Ferrer went 1-2 and got hit twice, Jaxson West went two for three with four RBI (including his first career home run with FSU), Marcos Dinges went 3-4 with five RBI(including a grand slam), Daniel Cantu went 2-4 with three RBI (including a three-run home run), and Drew Faurot went 3-4. All that production happened before the fifth inning, as the Noles pounded 16 hits through four innings. They had 18 hits total, and Alex Lodise joined the hit parade with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to give every FSU starter a hit. John Abraham got the start for the Noles and went one inning, allowing three earned runs. Andrew Armstrong had three strong innings, allowing one hit and zero runs. Brady Louck pitched a scoreless fifth inning with two hits and two strikeouts. Hudson Rowan entered the game in the top of the sixth and allowed a hit, walked three, including walking in a run with two outs. Conner Hults entered the game with the bases loaded and struck out the batter to get out of the jam. Hults finished the Gators in the top of the seventh.

It was an electric atmosphere in Dick Howser Stadium. It felt like a postseason game, and I can't stress how impressive it was for the Noles to respond immediately after Florida started the game how they did. It was the first time the Noles have swept the three-game series since 2000, and a great start to the week with rival Miami on deck this weekend.