RALEIGH, North Carolina – Despite another seven-inning start from Conner Whittaker, Florida State dropped the second game at NC State, 4-3, Saturday evening. Whittaker has pitched into the eighth inning in back-to-back starts, and thrown at least 5.0 innings in all three career starts. Florida State took a 3-0 lead in the second inning, with four hits, a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt. Logan Whitaker did not allow a baserunner outside of the second inning, throwing eight innings with eight strikeouts. Ferrer led off the second inning with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly; Ben Barrett and Colton Vincent added RBI singles in the frame. LuJames Groover hit two solo home runs to bookend the scoring for NC State – his third-inning shot cut into FSU’s lead, and his eighth-inning homer chased Whittaker and gave NC State its first lead of the contest. Parker Nolan tied the game with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Ferrer drew a walk in the ninth inning, snapping a string of 21 consecutive FSU batters retired. SCORING SUMMARY: T2 | FSU 1, NCSU 0 Kamaka sacrifice fly, Ferrer scored T2 | FSU 2, NCSU 0 B. Barrett singled, Smith scored T2 | FSU 3, NCSU 0 Vincent singled, B. Barrett scored B3 | FSU 3, NCSU 1 Groover home run B6 | FSU 3, NCSU 3 Nolan home run, Candelaria scored B8 | FSU 3, NCSU 4 Groover home run UP NEXT: The series finale is Sunday at 2:00 pm on ACCNX. OF NOTE: Conner Whittaker threw 7.0 innings, striking out six. He has pitched at least 5.0 innings in all three starts and accounted for two of FSU’s three outings of at least 7.0 innings (he pitched a team-high 7.1 IP last week vs. Clemson). Jaime Ferrer doubled in the second inning; he leads FSU with 13 doubles and 51 hits, and has a hit in 24 of 25 games (four straight). Ben Barrett doubled to score Cam Smith; Barrett and Smith lead FSU’s freshmen with five doubles on the year. Titan Kamaka’s sacrifice fly to begin the scoring was the first of his career and FSU’s 10th of the season. Nander De Sedas now accounts for four of FSU’s nine sacrifice bunts on the year. FSU’s inning-ending double play in the fourth inning was its 29th of the season. For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).