Florida State vs NC State Baseball Recap

(10) Florida State 12, North Carolina State 9

The upset-minded North Carolina State Wolfpack (32-20, 12-15 ACC) came to Tallahassee this weekend for a tough three-game series with the nationally-ranked Florida State Seminoles (39-13, 18-9 ACC).  After winning game one, 5-2, and leading for most of game two before surrendering the lead late in a 7-5 loss, the Wolfpack jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead by the middle of the second inning before ultimately losing the rain-shortened game.
 
Florida State starting pitcher Scott Sitz, who entered the game with a 5-0 record, was drummed out after giving up 6 runs in only 1/3 of an inning.  Sitz struggled with his control, walking one runner and giving two others a free pass to first by hitting them.  His inability to locate his pitches was also evidenced when he gave up a single, a double, and a home run before manager Mike Martin pulled the plug on Sitz in favor of John Gast. The FSU reliever fared only a little better in the first, allowing three inherited runners to score before giving up a run of his own. Before Florida State came to bat, it trailed, 7-0. 
 
Florida State threatened in the bottom of the first, but the Seminoles were retired on an inning-ending double play with two men on base. North Carolina State starter Ethan Ogburn gave up consecutive singles after getting leadoff hitter Tyler Holt to ground out, but he bounced back to snuff out the threat with the twin-killing. The Wolfpack then got a solo home run from Drew Poulk in the top of the second to extend their early lead to eight runs. 

Then, however, Ogburn failed to snuff out a rally. Anything but.

N.C. State's big lead would not last long, as the Seminoles made up the entire deficit in the next half inning. A James Ramsey home run highlighted Florida State’s eight-run second inning.  Ramsey’s home run was his second in consecutive games.

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The top of the third inning - which began with an 8-all tie - saw the Wolfpack gain back the lead on consecutive doubles by the Poulk cousins, Dallas and Drew.  However, the Noles took the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs to take an 11-9 lead after three innings.  The Seminoles tacked on an insurance run in the fifth inning to bring the final margin to 12-9 in favor of the home team.  The game was called in the seventh inning with the Wolfpack at bat with one man on and two outs. 
 
Gast, who pitched through the third inning after relieving Sitz with one out in the first, was awarded the win despite giving up three earned runs of his own, plus the three runs that were on base when he took over.  Anthony Tzamtzis took the loss for the Wolfpack after giving up seven runs in 1 1/3 innings, dropping his record to 4-3 on the season. 

Ramsey led FSU on offense, going 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs, while Drew Poulk led North Carolina State, going 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs.
 
Florida State ends the regular season next weekend with a three-game set at Clemson, while North Carolina State will take on High Point on Tuesday before a regular season-ending series against Duke in Raleigh.  Florida State can clinch the ACC's Atlantic Division with one win at Clemson; a berth in the ACC Tournament is already in the bag.  The Wolfpack are in contention with North Carolina for the eighth and final spot in the ACC Tournament.

By: John Cary
DFN Sports Guest Writer