Florida State University Athletics
Whittaker Makes First Career Start
4/1/2023 4:59:08 PM | Baseball
CORAL GABLES, Florida – Sophomore pitcher Conner Whittaker made his first career start Saturday, pitching 5.0 innings with five strikeouts in Florida State’s 3-2 loss at No. 23 Miami. Whittaker became the ninth different Seminole pitcher to start a game this season, and the seventh of those to make his first career start.
The sophomore from Sarasota allowed a two-run double in the second inning to get the Hurricanes on the board. Relief pitcher Andrew Armstrong pitched a career-high 3.0 innings, allowing a solo home run to start the seventh inning.
Florida State had five hits, two coming in the eighth inning when Titan Kamaka doubled and scored on Colton Vincent’s two-out single. Vincent had two of FSU’s hits; Kamaka was the first Seminole to reach third base this weekend, and Jaime Ferrer’s second-inning single extended his hitting streak to 17 games, the third-longest for any Seminole over the past 10 seasons.
James Tibbs III cut the deficit to 3-2 with a two-out home run in the ninth inning, his team-high ninth of the season and 19th of his career.
SCORING SUMMARY:
B2 | FSU 0, UM 2 Gomez doubled, Levenson & Cyr scored
B7 | FSU 0, UM 3 Perez home run
T8 | FSU 1, UM 3 Vincent singled, Kamaka scored
T9 | FSU 2, UM 3 Tibbs home run
UP NEXT:
The series finale between the Seminoles and Hurricanes is Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The game will air nationally on ESPNU.
OF NOTE:
- Jaime Ferrer singled in his first at-bat to extend his hitting streak to a career-long 17 games. It is tied for the third-longest for a Nole over the past 10 seasons:
- 19, DJ Stewart – March 5, 2014 to April 13, 2014
- 18, DJ Stewart – May 7, 2013 to February 14, 2014
- 17, Jaime Ferrer – March 4, 2023 to present
- 17, Colton Vincent – May 25, 2022 to March 10, 2023
- 17, Cal Raleigh – March 5, 2018 to June 2, 2018
- During his hitting streak, Ferrer is 28-for-71 (.394) with 11 runs, 14 RBI, six doubles, two home runs and four walks.
- Leftfielder Jordan Taylor made his second career start, and first in left field. Starting pitcher Conner Whittaker made his first career start, in his 31st Whittaker is the ninth Seminole to start on the mound this year, and the seventh to make his first career start.
- James Tibbs III hit his team-high ninth home run of the season, and 19th of his career. He also drew FSU’s only walk in the contest, his team-high 26th of the year.
- Freshman Titan Kamaka doubled in the eighth inning, his third of the year. He is tied with Cam Smith and Ben Barrett for the most doubles among FSU freshmen.
- Colton Vincent singled twice, his second scoring Kamaka and getting FSU on the board. It was his eighth multi-hit game of the season.
- Andrew Armstrong pitched a career-high 3.0 innings. Armstrong and Whittaker combined to walk just one batter, FSU’s fewest this season.
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).