TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Stetson baseball team fell below .500 on the season (10-11) after allowing 13 runs in two innings against No. 5 Florida State (20-1) on Wednesday. The Seminoles defeated the Hatters 14-1 to improve to 20-1 in 2013.
Like in game one, the Hatters received a valiant effort from their starting pitcher on Wednesday. Redshirt freshman Tyler Warmoth pitched four strong innings, allowing no runs on just four hits to give the Stetson offense a chance to take the lead.
Stetson was able to take the first lead of the contest, scoring one run in the top of the fourth. Senior James Rasmussen led off the frame with his second single of the game, a shot out to left field. After sophomore Garrett Russini reached on an error, freshman Carlos Garmendia advanced both runners on a nicely executed sacrifice bunt.
The Seminoles decided to intentionally walk sophomore Tyler Bocock in order to face junior K'Shawn Smith with the bases loaded. Florida State pitcher Billy Strode's first throw was wild, and allowed Rasmussen to score from third to give the Hatters the lead.
Warmoth's solid outing, in which he struck out three, walked none, and even made a spectacular play in the field, catching a popped up bunt and turning the double play by throwing the runner out at second base, was all for naught as the Hatter relievers couldn't get the job done.
All seven relievers who came in walked at least one batter, and all but freshman Garrison Banas allowed a run to Florida State. The Seminoles scored four runs in the fifth, and added nine runs in the sixth to take a commanding 13-1 lead over the Hatters and cruise to the 14-1 victory.
In all, the Stetson bullpen walked 12 batters and hit three en route to allowing the 14 FSU runs. The relievers managed just one strikeout, that coming from senior Joe Dye.
The Seminoles' 12 hits came from a variety of players, as only Josh Delph and Jose Brizuela recorded multiple hits. Delph led the Noles with four runs batted in, while Marcus Davis and John Nogowski added three RBI apiece with a home run and a triple, respectively.
Rasmussen was responsible for two of the Hatters' four hits in the game, while freshman Patrick Mazeika and Garmendia added the other two in the defeat.
Billy Strode earned the win (1-0) for Florida State after allowing one unearned run on three hits and a career high nine strikeouts. Stetson's Cameron Griffin (1-3) picked up the loss after allowing two runs on two walks, and recording an out.
Stetson will now return home to begin Atlantic Sun Conference play. The Hatters host Mercer in a three-game series this weekend, beginning on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
