May 22, 2021 ⚾: Noles Win Slugfest to Wrap Regular Season
RALEIGH, N.C. – Florida State hit four home runs Saturday, including two from catcher Mat Nelson, to win a back-and-forth affair at NC State 15-11 to close the regular season. Second baseman Jackson Greene continued to swing a hot bat, reaching base in all five plate appearances with three hits, two walks, his second home run in as many games and a career-high four runs batted in.
All ten Seminoles that had a plate appearance reached base at least once. The Noles drew nine walks and struck out just five times.
Nelson, the nation’s leader in home runs, had a career-high four hits and reached base five times. Nelson, Tyler Martin and Greene each scored three runs as the Noles erased a three-run deficit entering the seventh inning.
May 16, 2021 ⚾: Four-Run Eighth Caps FSU Comeback Win
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 17 Florida State (28-19, 19-14 ACC) sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs in the eighth inning to beat Clemson (24-23, 16-17) 9-6 Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium. Junior Jackson Greene had a pair of hits for the Seminoles and played great defense at second base to keep FSU in the game after Clemson scored four runs in the first inning.
Davis Hare saw one pitch Sunday – a bases loaded, pinch-hit single that scored the go-ahead runs in the eighth inning. Tyler Martin had three hits, two RBI and a walk, while Greene and Nander De Sedas each had two hits. Dylan Simmons drew three walks and scored a pair of runs.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Freshman Bryce Hubbart, making his first series-opening start of the year, threw 6.0 innings and allowed just one run in Florida State’s 8-3 win over Clemson Friday at Dick Howser Stadium. Logan Lacey led the Seminoles (27-18, 18-13 ACC) at the plate with two doubles and three RBI, while Hubbart shut down Clemson (23-22, 15-16) after the Tigers scored a first-inning run.
Hubbart improved to 6-4 on the year, striking out seven Clemson batters over six innings. The freshman hit Clemson’s first batter of the game and the Tigers took a 1-0 lead on a Caden Grice single.
Jack Anderson entered to start the seventh inning and earned his third save in the past week.
The Irish took an early lead, loading the bases in the first inning courtesy of a double, walk and a single before FSU recorded an out. Jack Brannigan lofted a sacrifice fly to center field for the 1-0 lead, but Messick limited the damage to just the one run.
Notre Dame loaded the bases again, this time with one out, in the third inning, before Messick notched a strikeout and a fielder’s choice ground ball to end the frame. After getting out of the bases loaded jam in the third, Messick faced the minimum over the next three innings, with his only baserunner allowed getting thrown out to end the sixth inning.
FSU: RHP Conor Grady (4-2, 3.91 ERA) vs. ND: TBA
FSU catcher Mat Nelson continues to lead the nation in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage. The third-year sophomore hit his 20
th home run of the season Sunday, the first Nole with at least 20 in a year since Buster Posey hit 26 in 2008. Nelson has 57 runs batted in and an .867 slugging percentage.
Messick, from Plant City, Florida, ranks second in the ACC with a 2.45 earned run average and 91 strikeouts. Messick has won three consecutive decisions and has 10 consecutive games with at least 5.0 innings pitched and two or fewer earned runs allowed.
Hubbart and Grady both set career highs in strikeouts last weekend against Troy. Hubbart retired 12 Trojan batters via K in 6.1 innings, also a career best. Grady needed just 5.0 innings to strike out 13 batters, the most for a Seminole this season.