Miami vs Florida State Baseball Recap

(4) Miami 9, (5) Florida State 3

The Florida State Seminoles (39-17) entered the ACC Tournament on a slump, having lost a three-game division lead in the final series of the season to Clemson, who swept the struggling ‘Noles to tie FSU for the Atlantic Division championship.  The Tigers’ sweep also dropped FSU into the bottom half of the ACC tournament bracket (which is not to imply that the Seminoles finished in the bottom half of the ACC since only eight teams make the ACC tournament).

The Miami Hurricanes (40-15) have not exactly ridden a hot streak into Greensboro.  The ‘Canes dropped two out of three to both Virginia and Georgia Tech in their last two series’ of the regular season.  Miami also dropped two of three in its series against Florida State back in April.  Nevertheless, the Hurricanes bested their archrivals on this first day of the ACC tournament. 

The top of the first inning summed up Florida State’s struggles late this season, where the talented but mistake-prone Seminoles have struggled in clutch situations.  Tyler Holt opened the game with the first of the centerfielder’s two hits on the day, but he was nabbed in an attempt to steal second for the second out of the inning.  The next batter, left fielder Mike McGee doubled down the line, a hit that may have driven in Holt, even from first base.  The runner in scoring position was left stranded when Florida State’s third outfielder, right-fielder James Ramsey, grounded harmlessly to Miami’s starting pitcher, Eric Whaley, who is 5-1 on the season.

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The Hurricanes’ bats were awakened in the second inning, after FSU’s starting pitcher, Sean Gilmartin, who is 6-7 on the season, tossed a perfect first inning.  The Hurricanes Michael Melendez and Nathan Broad each hit a home run in the second off Gilmartin to take a quick 3-0 lead. 

FSU threatened to make it a game with two runs in the top of the third, but Miami countered with two runs of their own on the bottom of the fourth, and the ‘Canes never looked back.  Harold Martinez connected for a three run bomb in the next inning to put the game out of reach. 

Pitching was the key of the game, as second-year starter Sean Gilmartin’s sophomore jinx continued after an outstanding freshman campaign.  Gilmartin lasted a respectable six and two-thirds innings, but he gave up nine runs, seven of which were earned, on six hits.  Meanwhile, his Miami counterpart lasted five innings, giving up only three runs, two of them earned.  Miami’s relievers were even better, though, surrendering only one hit in four innings between the three pitchers, E.J. Encinosa, Sam Robinson, and Daniel Miranda.

Florida State will move on to play top seed Virginia on Thursday, who survived a scare against Boston College, while Miami will take on BC. 

By: John Cary
ACC Fans Guest Writer