Arnold, Smith Lead Noles Past UCF

TALLAHASSEE – Behind another pitching gem – this time from staff ace Jamie Arnold – Florida State improved to 2-0 in the Tallahassee Regional with a 5-2 win over UCF Saturday night at Dick Howser Stadium. Arnold struck out 12 batters and allowed just two runs over 7.0 innings, while the FSU offense mashed 11 hits and scored all five runs in the first four innings.

Florida State takes a 44-15 record into Sunday's Regional Final against either UCF or Stetson. The Knights (36-20) will play the Hatters at noon Sunday, with the winner advancing to face the Seminoles Sunday evening.

Arnold improved to 11-3 with his victory against the Knights, the most for a Seminole since 2012. Arnold's 146 strikeouts on the season are seventh-most in FSU history and the most for a Nole since 2000.

Cam Smith and Marco Dinges each had three hits, with Smith hitting a two-run home run to double FSU's lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning. Smith has 96 hits on the season, most for a Nole since 2012.

Dinges plated Max Williams with a single in the third inning, FSU's third hit of the inning. Daniel Cantu pushed his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with an RBI single later in the frame.

After Smith's 15^th home run of the season, Dinges singled and scored on the first of Jaime Ferrer's two doubles.

The Knights got on the board in the bottom of the fourth after a hit batter scored on a Jack Zyska double. In the seventh, UCF loaded the bases against Arnold but scored just one run on a double play before an inning-ending groundout.

Arnold exited after a curtain call from the Howser faithful, making way for Brennen Oxford. The senior from Durham, New Hampshire, struck out four batters over the final 2.0 innings to earn his sixth save of the season.

SCORING SUMMARY:
T3 | FSU 1, UCF 0               Dinges singled, M. Williams scored
T3 | FSU 2, UCF 0               Cantu singled, Smith scored
T4 | FSU 4, UCF 0               Smith home run (15^th, 336 ft), West scored
T4 | FSU 5, UCF 0               Ferrer doubled, Dinges scored
B4 | FSU 5, UCF 1               Zyska doubled, Boedicker scored
B7 | FSU 5, UCF 2               Kluska grounded into double play, Neri scored

OF NOTE:

Starting pitcher Jamie Arnold pitched 7.0 innings, striking out 12 to push his season total to 146. About Arnold:
- His 146 strikeouts are seventh in a season at FSU and the most for a Nole since Mike Ziegler's 149 in 2000. Arnold has five double-digit strikeout games this year.
- Arnold's 11 wins are the most for a Seminole since 2012 (Mike Compton, 12).
- Arnold's 12 strikeouts against UCF are the most in the postseason for a Nole since Tyler Holton had 13 against the Knights in 2017.
- Arnold's 7.0 innings matched a career high (five times this season).
Florida State improved to 44-15, the Seminoles most wins since a 46-23 record and College World Series appearance in 2017. FSU's 21-win improvement from 2023 is the best in the nation.
The Seminoles' 21-win improvement is the largest year-over-year in program history; the previous (non-Covid) best was a 13-win bump from 2001 (47) to 2002 (60).
FSU has started 2-0 in the regional round 15 times since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1999.
Cam Smith was 3-for-4, his team-high 32^nd multi-hit game and 11^th three-hit game. Smith's 96 hits are the most for a Seminole since Jayce Boyd also had 96 hits in 2012.
Smith hit his 15^th home run, a career high. It was FSU's 110^th home run this season, doubling last season's total. The Noles have hit a home run in 12 consecutive games and in 54 of 59 this year.

FSU Single-Season HR
146, 1985 (82 games)
131, 1982 (74 games)
114, 1997 (67 games)
113, 1981 (79 games)
111, 1999 (71 games)
110, 2024 (59 games)

Marco Dinges also had three hits, tying a career high. He had an RBI single, his 60^th RBI of the year.
James Tibbs III (84) and Dinges (60) are the first Seminole teammates with 60+ RBI in a season since 2017 (Quincy Nieporte, 82; Dylan Busby, 65).
Former Knight Drew Faurot added two hits, including his 19^th double of the season.
Daniel Cantu had an RBI single in the third inning, pushing his hitting streak to a team-high and career-high 12 games.
Max Williams singled to extend his on-base streak to 14 games, a career high. He added his fourth sacrifice bunt.
FSU's eight players with at least 40 runs scored are the Noles most in a season since a school-record nine in 2002.
Tibbs walked to push on-base streak to 17 games. His 50 walks – with five coming in the NCAA Tournament – are a team high. Alex Lodise drew a walk and has reached safely in a career-high 16 straight games.
Brennen Oxford earned his team-high sixth save of the season. He also picked off a runner in the ninth inning, his second of the year.

UP NEXT:
Florida State will play the winner of the (4) Stetson and (3) UCF game Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

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 X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).

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Team Stats

Cam Smith

Marco Dinges

Jaime Ferrer

Drew Faurot

Players Mentioned

Jamie Arnold

Daniel Cantu

Marco Dinges

Drew Faurot

Jaime Ferrer

Alex Lodise

Brennen Oxford

Cam Smith

James Tibbs III

Max Williams

Florida State University Athletics