⚾️: Noles Top Wildcats, Prepare for ACC Play

TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida State (9-3) was all business with 17 hits in a 10-1 midweek win over Bethune-Cookman (8-5) on Tuesday evening at Dick Howser Stadium. Ryan Denison (1-1) earned his first career win, coming in relief for 2.0 innings while James Tibbs III and Cam Smith each hit a home run and accounted for half of the runs on the night.

Tibbs III had 15 hits coming into the game and continued his superb offensive performance, drawing two walks to start before doubling into right to score a run then crushing a 2-2 pitch into deep center. Smith had a homer in his first plate appearance for the game’s first run and later hit a single to push his hit count to 14, leading the Seminole freshmen.

David Barrett made his first career Seminole start on the mound off a strong relief outing against South Florida. The Sarasota native flew through the first few innings, retiring seven straight batters to begin the game. He finished his start after 2.1 innings with two strikeouts and conceded no hits. Andrew Armstrong finished off the third inning.

Denison came in for his fifth appearance of the season and worked a strong 2.0 innings. He forced a multitude of fielding putouts and allowed just two hits on 24 pitches. Taking the pitching reins next was another freshman making his fifth appearance in Jamie Arnold. Just like his fellow freshman, he worked 2.0 innings himself and struck out three Wildcats.

Brandon Walker and Drake Flowers split the final two innings to close out the rout. Walker made his second appearance this season and struck out one en route to a comfortable inning while Flowers made his first collegiate appearance on the mound and finished with two punchouts.

Smith gave the Seminoles the lead on the second at-bat of the game and never looked back with an offensive explosion of ten singles, three doubles, a triple, and three home runs. Not only did they provide high output but were also consistent, knocking a hit in all eight innings.

This is the eighth game out of 12 where Florida State has racked up double-digit runs. The 17 hits stand as the second-most hits in a game by the team this season.

SCORING SUMMARY:

B1 | BCU 0, FSU 1                  Smith home run
B1 | BCU 0, FSU 2                  Ferrer doubled, Tibbs III scored
B3 | BCU 0, FSU 3                  Vincent tripled, Carrion scored
B4 | BCU 0, FSU 4                  Tibbs doubled, Rank scored
B4 | BCU 0, FSU 5                  B. Barrett sacrifice fly, Smith scored
B4 | BCU 0, FSU 6                  Carrion sacrifice fly, Tibbs scored
B4 | BCU 0, FSU 7                  Bush singled, Ferrer scored
B5 | BCU 0, FSU 8                  De Sedas home run
B5 | BCU 0, FSU 9                  Tibbs home run
B8 | BCU 0, FSU 10                Putz singled, Kamaka scored
T9 | BCU 1, FSU 10                Cintron singled, Moya scored

UP NEXT:

Florida State opens ACC play Friday, hosting the Pitt Panthers for a three-game series. Friday’s game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Dick Howser Stadium.

On Friday, former Seminole football players Jameis Winston, Derwin James, Jalen Ramsey, Cam Akers, Jashaun Corbin and Keir Thomas will be in attendance. On Saturday, FSU will retire Buster Posey’s Number 8 jersey in a pregame ceremony beginning at 2:30 p.m.

OF NOTE:

• Florida State improved to 8-0 all-time against Bethune-Cookman. Every starter in the FSU lineup had at least one hit; Cam Smith, James Tibbs III, Colton Vincent, Nander De Sedas and Lance Trippel each had two.
• FSU has reached double-digit runs eight times in 12 games; in 2022, FSU scored 10+ runs 10 times in 59 games.
• Vincent singled in his first at-bat to push his hitting streak to 16 games, tied for the fourth-longest at FSU over the last 10 seasons:
• 19, DJ Stewart – March 5, 2014 to April 13, 2014
• 18, DJ Stewart – May 7, 2013 to February 14, 2014
• 17, Cal Raleigh – March 5, 2018 to June 2, 2018*
• 16, Colton Vincent – May 25, 2022 to present
• 16, Drew Mendoza – March 2, 2018 to March 23, 2018
• 16, Taylor Walls – March 9, 2016 to April 9, 2016
• Vincent added his first career triple in the third inning and leads FSU with a .439 batting average this season. Over his 16-game hitting streak, Vincent is 24-for-56, 10 R, 10 RBI, 7 2B, 3B, HR, 4 BB and 2 HBP.
• Vincent’s triple was FSU’s seventh of the season, matching the Noles’ total from 2022. FSU entered Tuesday Top 15 nationally in both doubles and triples.
• David Barrett made his first career start Tuesday, pitching a career-high 2.1 innings and not allowing a hit. He is just the fifth active Seminole pitcher to start a game: Carson Montgomery, Jackson Baumeister, Jamie Arnold and Ben Barrett.
• Smith and Tibbs both hit their team-high fourth home runs of the season; De Sedas hit his 15^th career home run to start the fifth inning; his 15 career home runs (13 at FSU) are the most on the team. FSU’s three home runs tied a season high (three times).
• Tibbs leads FSU with 16 RBI and 23 runs scored. He reached safely in all four plate appearances – two walks, a double and a home run. He has reached safely in 54 of his 57 career starts.
• Cade Bush extended his hitting streak to three games and his on-base streak to six games, both career bests…Trippel earned his first career hit in the seventh inning, and his second in the eighth inning…Santiago Ordoñez made his FSU debut in the eighth inning…Titan Kamaka hit his first career double in the eighth inning…Jude Putz earned his first career hit in the eighth inning, an RBI single that extended FSU’s lead to 10-0…freshman Drake Flowers made his FSU debut in the ninth inning.

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).