Florida State Seminoles baseball rolls past No. 5 Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BVM) — The Florida State Seminole baseball team was able to get their second straight win. This win came over the No. 5 ranked Florida Gators on March 16. The Seminoles were led by freshman pitcher Carson Montgomery who struck out nine batters in 4.2 innings, and sophomore outfielder Robby Martin who had two home runs and five RBIs. Martin’s outstanding game was his second straight game with five RBIs.
Florida State has had an up-and-down start to the regular season thus far, starting the season with a 7-6 record through their first 13 games. Although Tuesday night’s game was a big step in the right direction. It was the first time the Seminoles have beaten the Gators in Tallahassee since 2015, and they did so handily.
In his third start of the season, Montgomery looked like the top prospect he is. The freshman struck out nine batters while only walking three and allowing two runs. While Montgomery had a strong performance, he was not the only one who performed against No. 5 Florida. The Florida State pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts, only allowing four hits and two earned runs in nine innings.
The Seminoles’ offensive performance showed just how dangerous the lineup can be on any given night. Florida State scored 10 runs in the game, thanks to Robby Martin’s two home runs, with a two-run shot in the sixth that was followed by Matheu Nelson’s team-leading fifth home run of the season.
Florida State ended the game with 13 hits, 12 of which came from the 2-6 spots in the lineup, with Logan Lacey and Robby Martin each racking up three hits. Parker Messick and Wyatt Crowell each drove in two runs.
The win was one of Florida State’s largest wins against Florida. Their 10 runs scored was the most against Florida since 2010. It was also the largest margin of victory for Florida State in the series since 2008.
Florida State head coach Mike Martin Jr. was impressed with Montgomery’s performance in the Tuesday night win.
“He has a chance to be really special, and I don’t think he had his best stuff,” Martin said. “I don’t know what his strike percentage was, but he made pitches when he needed to, and again, he’s a difference-maker.”
The Seminoles have shown to bounce back the past few games, winning three of their last four games against two top-ranked teams.
“They know that you know we weren’t where we’re going to be, and they kept going, and they kept pushing,” Martin said. “The energy in the dugout, guys feeling the love from their teammates is really powerful stuff, and I’m really liking what I’m hearing and seeing in the dugout and the comradery. It’s a loud locker room right now, and it should be.”
Head coach Mike Martin Jr. was also impressed with the leadership that redshirt sophomore catcher Matheu Nelson has shown this season.
“You know the longer the guys are in the program, the more comfortable they feel, and that block and retrieve and accurate throw to second really kind of said we’re not having this,” Martin stated. “We’re going to play hard nose and fundamentally sound, and he’s invaluable.”
In the win, Florida State showed that their bullpen can come in and hold their own against top teams throughout the games.
“Chase has that calming effect, you know the old Jesse Orosco if you will for the old-timers in that you know what you’re going to get, and you don’t like the way things are going it takes him five pitches to get ready, and he’s in the ballgame, and that’s what he does,” Martin said. “His maturity and leadership is second to none.”
The Florida State Seminoles carried over the momentum against No. 8 ranked Miami. They swept the Hurricanes, following the win over Florida. The Seminoles start a three-game series against North Carolina on April 2.
