TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State (4-5, 2-4 ACC) got a strong start from pitcher Conor Grady, but the Seminoles could not find the clutch hit late as they fell to No. 16 Virginia (6-5, 2-4) 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium. Grady (1-1) and reliever Wyatt Crowell combined to retire the final 19 Cavalier hitters.
Brendan Rivoli had both of Virginia’s RBI Sunday, with a bloop double in the first inning that scored Nic Kent and a single in the third that scored Max Cotier. The Seminoles did not allow another baserunner, with Grady retiring 13 straight and Crowell pitching a perfect eighth and ninth inning. The two combined for 13 strikeouts and did not walk a batter.
Messick, from Plant City, Florida, set career highs with eight innings pitched and 11 strikeouts. He allowed just three hits and did not walk a batter on the evening as FSU shut out the Cavaliers 2-0.
Messick is the first Seminole with double-digit strikeouts since CJ Van Eyk did it in the 2019 ACC Tournament against NC State. His 8.0 innings pitched are the most for a Nole since Drew Parrish reached that mark in the opener of the 2019 College World Series against Arkansas.
Messick led a strong Florida State rotation in the series win against the Cavaliers. Messick, Bryce Hubbart and Conor Grady struck out 26 batters in 21 innings pitched, allowing just nine hits and walking two batters. Messick is FSU’s first player of the week of 2021 and it is his first career ACC Player of the Week honor.
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State (2-4, 0-3 ACC) looks to break into the win column in Atlantic Coast Conference play when No. 18 Virginia (5-3, 1-2 ACC) comes to Tallahassee for three games at Dick Howser Stadium. All three games will stream live on ACC Network Extra.
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FRIDAY, March 5, 2021
6:00 p.m. – ACC Network Extra
LHP Parker Messick (FSU) vs. LHP Andrew Abbott (UVA)
SATURDAY, March 6, 2021
2:00 p.m. – ACC Network Extra
LHP Bryce Hubbart (FSU) vs. RHP Griff McGarry (UVA)
SUNDAY, March 7, 2021
1:00 p.m. – ACC Network Extra
RHP Conor Grady (FSU) vs. RHP Mike Vasil (UVA)
Second-year freshman pitcher Bryce Hubbart will make his first career weekend start on Saturday. The left-hander pitched a career-high 4.1 innings in relief Sunday against Pitt, striking out a career-high nine batters.
Messick, FSU’s Friday night starter, also struck out a career-high nine batters a week ago against the Panthers.
Offensivel
LHP Parker Messick (FSU) vs. RHP Mitch Myers (Pitt)
SATURDAY, February 27, 2021
RHP Carson Montgomery (FSU) vs. RHP Matt Gilbertson (Pitt)
SUNDAY, February 28, 2021
RHP Conor Grady (FSU) vs. TBA (Pitt)
Florida State enters the weekend after winning the last two games against North Florida, sweeping Sunday’s doubleheader by a combined score of 22-11. Catcher Mat Nelson hit two home runs, with Reese Albert and freshman third baseman Vince Smith each hitting one home run. Smith’s three-run home run Sunday was his first hit as a Seminole.
Designated hitter Tyler Martin went 6-for-8 with a double, four walks, a hit by pitch and five runs scored. His .750 batting average and .786 on-base percentage are both the best in the ACC.