⚾: Salvatore Shines on Senior Day

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – CJ Van Eyk did not allow a run Saturday, improving to 7-3 in FSU’s 11-1 win over Richmond on Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium. The sophomore right-hander struck out eight batters and allowed just three hits in five innings. Florida State (33-18) scored nine runs in the first four innings while Richmond (25-21-1) stranded six baserunners in that span.

Box Score

Offensively, senior Mike Salvatore tied a career high with four hits and finished a home run shy of the cycle. Carter Smith had three hits and J.C. Flowers added two runs batted in.

Florida State chased Richmond starting pitcher Jacob Marcus (2-4) after just one inning. The right-hander threw 49 pitches, allowing just one hit but walking four batters, including a bases loaded base on balls to Flowers. Mat Nelson also had a sacrifice fly in the inning.

Antonio Balducci pitched the second inning and FSU again scored two runs on one hit. Reese Albert was hit by a pitch before Salvatore hit an RBI triple. Salvatore has four of FSU’s 11 triples this season.

Drew Mendoza followed with an RBI groundout that extended FSU’s lead to 4-0 through two innings.

FSU added four runs in the third inning against Balducci and Brendan McGuigan. Flowers singled to score Nelson, who reached on a walk; Nander De Sedas singled to score Smith and end Balducci’s day. Albert singled in a run and Salvatore grounded out for FSU’s eighth run of the game.

Smith doubled in the fourth inning to score Martin and push FSU’s lead to 9-0. It was Smith’s first multi-hit game as a Seminole.

As FSU extended its lead, Van Eyk was running through the Spiders hitters. Despite having two runners on base three times in the first four innings, Richmond came up empty-handed each time. Van Eyk allowed three hits, hit a batter and issued two walks in his 5.0 innings. He had eight strikeouts Saturday, giving him 29 over the past three games and 13.0 innings.

Richmond scored an unearned run in the top of the sixth off Shane Drohan, but the Seminoles answered in the bottom of the inning with singles from senior Jonathan Foster, Smith and an RBI knock from McGuire Weaver. Weaver started Saturday with two hits on the year and added a double in the eighth inning.

Senior Tim Becker doubled to score Weaver in the eighth and provide the final 11-1 margin. It was the first double of Becker’s career.

Drohan pitched three innings in relief, surrendering two hits, walking three and striking out three. Gage Hutchinson, FSU’s fourth and final senior, threw the ninth inning, getting ahead 0-2 to all five batters faced, striking out two and forcing a fly out to end the game.

OF NOTE

• Baseball recognized its four seniors prior to the game – Tim Becker, Jonathan Foster, Gage Hutchinson and Mike Salvatore.
• Mike Salvatore hit his fourth triple of the year, most for a Seminole since Dylan Busby had five in 2016. He tied a career high with four hits, including two doubles, his 17^th and 18^th of the year.
• J.C. Flowers had two RBI Saturday and is tied with Drew Mendoza for the team lead at 45.
• First baseman Carter Smith had three hits Saturday, his first career multi-hit game as a Seminole. He entered the game with eight hits on the year.
• FSU improved to 22-0 all-time against Richmond. Mike Martin is now 21-0 against the Spiders.
• McGuire Weaver singled to score Jonathan Foster in the sixth inning and doubled in the eighth inning. The freshman started Saturday with just two hits on the season.
• Tim Becker doubled in the eighth inning to score Weaver. It was the first double of Becker’s career.

UP NEXT

Florida State and Richmond wrap the series Sunday at 11:00 a.m. The game will stream on ACC Network Extra.

Before the game, FSU will recognize head coach Mike Martin and his 40-year career before the final home game of his career.

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).