⚾: Offensive Explosion Clinches Series at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA, Ga. – No. 25 Florida State (20-14, 15-11 ACC) clinched its third Atlantic Coast Conference series away from home Saturday with a 13-10 win at Mac Nease Ballpark against Georgia Tech (18-16, 14-12). Logan Lacey led FSU with a career-high five RBI, while Mat Nelson extended his nation-leading home run total to 17 and Tyler Martin scored four runs.

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Bryce Hubbart (5-2) won his second straight start, throwing five innings, allowing three hits, one run, a walk and five strikeouts to lower his season earned run average to 3.74.

The game was suspended in the top of the eighth inning Saturday night with FSU leading 11-7. On Sunday, FSU scored two runs on infield singles in the eighth inning and Georgia Tech hit two home runs to provide the final margin.

Just before a 30-minute rain delay, Lacey hit a three-run home run in the second inning that gave FSU a 4-0 lead. After play resumed, Lacey tacked on a two-run single and the junior finished 2-for-4 with two runs and a walk on the day.

Nelson followed Lacey’s two-run single with his 17^th home run. Nelson has a home run in six of his past seven ACC games and, with three RBI Saturday, now leads the ACC with 52 on the year.

Right fielder Robby Martin opened the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning and added a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. The sophomore is third in the ACC with 39 RBI this year.

Tyler Martin scored on each of his first four plate appearances, tying a career high and pushing his season total to 37, tied with Nelson for the team lead. Andy Archer (4-4) walked six and gave up four hits and six runs in 3.0 innings for the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech scored its first run of the weekend on a solo home run by John Anderson to start the third inning. The Yellow Jackets had leadoff doubles in the fourth and fifth innings, but Hubbart settled in and kept Georgia Tech off the board both times.

After Anderson’s home run, Florida State responded with four runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth for an 11-1 lead.

After a slew of substitutions from both sides, Georgia Tech plated six runs in the seventh inning against the Seminole bullpen to cut the lead to 11-7. Carson Montgomery needed just three pitches to record the first two outs, but he and Chase Haney allowed two walks, a hit by pitch, a double and four singles for a six-run inning. The inning ended with Stephen Reid trying to advance to second after his RBI single and getting thrown out 9-2-4.

When the game restarted Sunday, Jack Anderson was on the mound for the Noles and allowed two home runs and three runs total. With two runners on base, Jonah Scolaro and Davis Hare, who earned his third save, combined to get the final two batters out.

OF NOTE:

• Mat Nelson hit his 17^th home run of the year, the most in the nation. He has a home run in six of his past seven ACC games and leads the ACC with 52 runs batted in. Nelson also tied a career-high with two walks in his first two at-bats.
• Nelson needed just 34 team games to reach 17 home runs, the third-fastest in FSU history and the quickest in nearly 40 years. Jeff Ledbetter hit his 17^th home run in Game 19 in 1982, while Mike Fuentes hit his 17^th in Game 31 in 1981.
• Nelson’s 17 home runs are the most for a Seminole in the BBCOR bat era (since 2011).
• Tyler Martin was 2-for-3, drew two walks, an RBI and scored four runs Saturday. The four runs scored tied a career high and Martin has successfully reached base in 45 of 48 career starts. His 33 walks are the most in the ACC.
• Robby Martin had two RBI Saturday, including an RBI double in the first inning. Martin’s 39 RBI this year are third-most in the ACC. Martin also started a 9-2-4 out to end the seventh inning. The Seminoles have outfield assists the past two games and seven for the season.
• Logan Lacey hit his third home run of the season before a 30-minute rain delay. He added a two-run single in the fourth inning and his five RBI were a career-high (previous was 2, four times) and tied the most for a Seminole this season.
• The Seminoles drew 12 walks Saturday, tied for the Noles most this year (12 vs. Pitt). FSU’s first three runs of the game reached base via walk. Mat Nelson and Nander De Sedas each tied their season high with two walks.
• Chase Haney pitched for the 25^th time this season, the most pitching appearances in the country. He has thrown in 132 career games, four shy of tying the FSU record.
• Backup catcher Colton Vincent had an RBI single in the eighth inning, his first RBI as a Seminole.
• Florida State improved to 15-1 when scoring first this season.
• FSU’s 13 runs were its most on the road at Georgia Tech since a 17-2 win in 2008.

For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, or keep up with the team on social media through Twitter (@FSUBaseball), Facebook (/FSUBaseball), and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).