⚾️: Noles Drop First Home Contest of 2023

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida State (7-2) dropped its first home contest of 2023 Friday, falling 10-8 to FGCU (9-1) in front of 4,422 fans at Dick Howser Stadium. James Tibbs III hit a two-run home run for the second straight game, but baserunning and defensive miscues cost the Seminoles.

After taking an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on Tibbs’ 13^th career home run, the Eagles scored seven runs over the next two frames, including three unearned on a defensive error in the second. Jackson Baumeister (1-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing six runs on five hits in 2.1 innings.

FGCU pushed its lead to 8-2 after five innings before the Noles mounted its comeback bid in the sixth. FSU plated five runs against the Eagles’ bullpen and had runners on second and third with no outs, but a double play nabbed the lead runner at the plate and a fly out ended the inning. Freshman Ben Barrett had a two-run RBI in the inning, his second hit of the game in his first appearance in the lineup. Freshman Gunnett Carlson also had an RBI single as a pinch-hitter in the frame.

The teams traded runs in the eighth inning and, down 10-8, Treyton Rank drew a leadoff walk before LJ McDonough retired the next three Seminoles in order. Connor O’Hara (1-0) earned the win for the Eagles, pitching 2.0 innings in relief, while McDonough earned his second save. Jason Woodward, the Eagles’ starting pitcher, exited after 2.2 innings with an undisclosed injury.

At the plate, FGCU had 14 hits, with nine going for extra bases. The Eagles had an extra-base hit to start an inning five times.

SCORING SUMMARY:

B1 | FGCU 0, FSU 2                Tibbs III home run, Rank scored
T2 | FGCU 1, FSU 2                Mummau singled, Kinker scored
T2 | FGCU 3, FSU 2                Ellis reached on a fielder’s choice, Rodriguez and Felix scored on a throwing error

T2 | FGCU 4, FSU 2                Povey doubled, Mummau scored
T3 | FGCU 5, FSU 2                Kinker home run
T3 | FGCU 7, FSU 2                Lojewski home run, Felix scored
T4 | FGCU 8, FSU 2                Povey scored on a wild pitch
B6 | FGCU 8, FSU 3                Rank scored on a passed ball
B6 | FGCU 8, FSU 5                Barrett singled, Tibbs & Smith scored
B6 | FGCU 8, FSU 6                Carlson singled, Carrion scored
B6 | FGCU 8, FSU 7                Barrett scored on a wild pitch
T8 | FGCU 10, FSU 7              Figueredo home run, Povey scored
B8 | FGCU 10, FSU 8             Kamaka singled, Carrion scored

UP NEXT:

The Seminoles and Eagles will play the second game of the series Saturday at 3:00 p.m. FSU will throw LHP Jamie Arnold and FGCU will throw LHP Mason Miller.

OF NOTE:

• For the second consecutive game, James Tibbs III hit a two-run home run in the first inning to give FSU a 2-0 lead. Tibbs leads FSU with 16 runs scored and eight walks (one Friday).
• Tibbs is tied for FSU’s season (3, with Cam Smith) and career (13, with Nander De Sedas) home run lead.
• Tibbs, Treyton Rank and Ben Barrett each had two hits. Rank has reached safely in a career-high 10 straight games; Tibbs has reached safely in 51 of his 54 career starts; and Barrett was making his first plate appearances of the season. Barrett was the starting pitcher against Jacksonville, and pitched 0.1 innings of relief Friday against the Eagles.
• Colton Vincent extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games, the longest career streak for any active Seminole. His eighth-inning double was his fifth of the season, tied with Jordan Carrion for the team lead. Vincent has matched his extra-base hit total from a season ago (5 doubles, 1 HR in 9 games in 2023; 6 doubles in 58 games in 2022).
• Redshirt sophomore Sebastian Jimenez made his third career start, and first at first base. His previous two were as the designated hitter, both earlier this season.
• The Seminoles used seven pitchers Friday, with Andrew Armstrong making his team-high seventh appearance. Doug Kirkland set career-highs with 3.0 innings and three strikeouts, and did not allow a run.

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 and TikTok (@NoleBaseball).