⚾: Roberts, Ferrer & Toral Lift Noles Above Duke, 7-2

TALLAHASSEE – No. 7 Florida State (16-6, 6-2) beat Duke (11-12, 2-6) 7-2 on Saturday at Dick Howser Stadium and have now won six straight series to start the season. Brett Roberts, Jaime Ferrer, and Alex Toral each hit a home run and accounted for all seven RBI.

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Bryce Hubbart (5-1) earned his fifth win of the season with seven innings pitched against the Blue Devils. Davis Hare entered in relief and struck out the final Duke batter with two runners on base to secure the victory.

With a home run in the second to open the scoring and a sacrifice fly in the third, Roberts earned a season-high three RBI. It was Roberts’ third home run of the year and increased the team’s streak to 11 consecutive games with a home run, the longest since at least 2015.

Toral hit his seventh home run of the season and 44^th of his career. He currently leads the team in extra-base hits with 16 and RBI with 25. Among active players, Toral ranks fifth in the country for home runs.

Ferrer, the freshman right fielder, hit his fourth career home run and recorded another double, extending his team-lead with 10 on the season, tied with Toral.

FSU is now 6-0 against left-handed pitchers this year after defeating Luke Fox (1-3) on the mound for Duke.

The Seminole defense turned the ninth double play of the season as Toral, Jordan Carrion, and Jackson Greene combined to get runners out at first and second in the eighth inning.

Alex Stone hit a pair of solo home runs to account for both of Duke’s runs.

SCORING SUMMARY:

B2 | FSU 2, DU 0      Roberts homered to right field, scoring Toral
T3 | FSU 2, DU 1      Stone homered to right field
B3 | FSU 3, DU 1      Toral doubled to right field, scoring Lacey
B3 | FSU 4, DU 1      Roberts flied out to center field, scoring Shaver
B4 | FSU 6, DU 1      Ferrer homered down the right field line, scoring Vincent
T7 | FSU 6, DU 2      Stone homered to right center
B8 | FSU 7, DU 2      Toral homered to right field

UP NEXT:

Florida State and Duke close out the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. LHP Ross Dunn will pitch for the Seminoles.

OF NOTE:

• Jaime Ferrer doubled in the first inning, and Alex Toral had an RBI double in the third inning. Both players have a team-high 10 doubles.
• Alex Toral currently leads the team in extra-base hits with 16 and RBI with 25.
• Brett Roberts’ two-run home run gave FSU a 2-0 lead and was his third HR of the year. As a team, FSU has a home run in 11 consecutive games. Roberts’ three RBI were a new season high.
• Colton Vincent singled in his first at-bat to extend his hit streak to a career-best six games.
• FSU is now 6-0 against left-handed pitchers this year.
• Hubbart and Hare combined for just five strikeouts, a season low. It snapped FSU pitchers’ 17-game streak of striking out double-digit batters. FSU’s one walk was also a season low.
• FSU’s three home runs tied a season high (three times).
• The Seminoles have won six straight series to open the season for the first time since 2016.

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).