⚾: Noles Win Series, Split Doubleheader

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Florida State (24-14, 12-9 ACC) split a doubleheader Saturday with Virginia (23-18, 9-12), winning the opener 5-3 and falling in the nightcap 13-3 on Davenport Field. With Thursday’s win, the Seminoles have won consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference series for the first time this season.

GAME 1 – FSU 5, Virginia 3
CJ Van Eyk won his second straight start in game one Saturday, throwing six innings and giving up just one run in FSU’s 5-3 win over Virginia. After the Cavaliers took its first lead of the series in the fourth inning, FSU answered with five runs over the next two innings to take control of the game.

Box Score

Robby Martin had three RBI for the second straight game for FSU, while Reese Albert set a season high with three hits in his second game back from a shoulder injury. Drew Mendoza’s first triple of the season tied the game in the fifth.

Both teams left a number of runners on base in the early going, but Virginia struck first with an RBI single in the fourth inning from Logan Michaels. The Seminoles had chances against starting pitcher Noah Murdock, forcing the junior to throw 89 pitches in four innings, but the Noles left at least two runners on base in the first, third and fourth innings.

The Noles did strike in the fifth, with Albert walking before Mendoza’s triple tied the game. Martin followed with an RBI groundout and the Noles led 2-1 at the midway point.

After Van Eyk (5-3) pitched his first perfect inning in the bottom of the fifth, FSU added three more runs in the sixth inning. Murdock hit Elijah Cabell to start the inning and was pulled with a final line of 5.0 innings pitched, five hits and three runs allowed on 104 pitches. Andrew Abbott entered and gave up a single to Nander De Sedas, a sacrifice bunt to Mat Nelson and intentionally walked Mike Salvatore to load the bases.

With the left-on-left matchup, Albert laced his third single of the game to score Cabell and two batters later, Martin singled to score two and give FSU a 5-1 lead.

Van Eyk threw 113 pitches in 6.0 innings, leaving with two runners on base in the seventh inning. The sophomore gave up six hits and struck out four while allowing one run but his outing was hindered by an FSU defense that gave up a season-high five errors.

Conor Grady, the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Week, relieved Van Eyk, struck out Cayman Richardson and forced two pop flys to get FSU out of trouble.

Grady issued a pair of full-count walks to start the eighth and both runners scored, on a sacrifice fly and a single by Jack Weiller. The Seminoles issued three walks in the game and all three came around to score for the Cavaliers.

Weiller had four of Virginia’s eight hits.

J.C. Flowers earned his ninth save of the year, working around a two-out error and infield single to strike out cleanup hitter Brendan Rivoli and close the game.

OF NOTE           

• Reese Albert singled in the first inning, tying his career-long hitting streak at five games. He had a season high three hits and drew a walk.
• Catcher Mat Nelson threw out two runners in game one, an attempted base stealer in the third inning and a pick off in the fourth inning. Nelson also had a sacrifice bunt, his sixth of the year and FSU’s 11^th of the season.
• FSU’s five errors were a season high.
• Drew Mendoza hit his second career triple, and first this season, to score Albert and tie the game at 1-1 in the fifth inning. FSU has six triples on the season, tying its total from 2018.
• Elijah Cabell was hit by a pitch for the 12^th time this season, most on the team and most by a Seminole since three players had 13 in 2017.
• Robby Martin had three RBI and leads FSU with 35 on the season. He has three RBI in both games of the series.
• Florida State issued three walks in game one. All three scored.
• J.C. Flowers’ nine saves are the most for FSU since Billy Strode had 14 in 2015. FSU is 18-0 when leading after 8 innings.
• FSU’s six straight ACC wins are tied for the longest league streak this year (North Carolina). It is FSU’s longest conference winning streak since an eight-game run in 2014.

GAME 2 – Virginia 13, FSU 3
The Seminoles could not maintain its momentum in game two Saturday, falling 13-3 in the afternoon game. Virginia’s Cameron Simmons hit a two-run home run in the third inning off starter Shane Drohan (2-1), and the Cavaliers added five runs in the fifth inning against Drohan, Jonah Scolaro and Chase Haney.

Box Score

Four of FSU’s six hits came in the eighth inning, scoring two runs on a sacrifice fly and a bases loaded walk. The Noles first run was on two walks, a passed ball and a wild pitch in the sixth inning.

Virginia’s Griff McGarry (3-5) pitched five innings, giving up a hit and one unearned run while striking out eight.

Virginia scored six runs over the final three innings to secure the win.

UP NEXT

Florida State will play its next nine games, and 12 of the next 13, at Dick Howser Stadium, beginning Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. against Stetson. The game will stream live on ACC Network Extra. The Noles and Hatters also play Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

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).