FSU jumps on BC early in 9-4 win
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All good things must come to an end.
For Florida State starting pitcher Scott Sitz, that good thing was his scoreless innings streak, which was finally snapped in the third inning on Saturday night against Boston College.
Sitz's streak ended at 22 consecutive innings as he gave up four runs, just one earned, in his fourth start of the year. Fortunately the fifth-ranked Seminoles' offense provided Sitz with plenty of backup early as FSU defeated BC 9-5 to improve to 14-0 and 2-0 in the ACC.
FSU scored seven runs in the second inning, behind a two-run single by Josh Delph and a two-run triple by D.J. Stewart. Sitz improved to 3-0 as he allowed four runs, one earned on six hits and two walks, while striking out five batters in 5.1 innings.
"Everything's got to come to an end sometime," Sitz said. "But I was just happy that it went that long."
The Seminoles got on the board in the first inning on an RBI groundout by Marcus Davis to score Delph who doubled to start the inning.
In the second inning, everyone got into the act with seven runs on six hits and one walk. Giovanny Alfonzo drove in a run in the inning, while Delph plated two on an opposite field single and Stewart drove in two more on a triple to dead center. Stewart came home to score on a sacrifice fly by Davis.
"Honestly I thought it was just a fly out," Stewart said. "I didn't hit it the best I could of. I hit the (groundout) in the first inning to second base a lot harder than that. I guess the wind caught it and it just kept going and kept going. As soon I saw it the centerfielder keep running I was thinking triple as soon as I saw him run."
Catcher Stephen Mcgee topped off the inning with his second-career homerun and second homer of the year, a solo shot to left field for an 8-0 lead. After going 367 career at-bats without a homerun, McGee's homer was his second in the last four games for FSU.
"Starting to get into the groove," McGee said. "Seeing pitches, letting it get deep and putting good swings on them now."
Davis, Stewart and Delph each finished the game with two RBIs. Jose Brizuela recorded a career-high three hits, as he was 3 for 4 with two doubles and a a run scored. Seth Miller also recorded two doubles as he was 2 for 3 with two runs scored.
After the seven-run second inning, FSU didn't get on the board again until Miller scored on a sacrifice squeeze-bunt by John Sansone in the eighth inning.
After BC (3-10, 0-2 ACC) starter John Gorman (1-2) was chased from the game after just 1.2 innings, as he was charged with eight earned runs on seven hits and one walk, the Eagles' bullpen allowed just three hits the rest of the way.
Jeff Burke allowed just wo hits and two walks in 3.1 innings of relief, followed by a perfect two innings of work by Jess Adams. Eric Stone gave up the lone run in the eighth inning.
With the FSU bats being held in check, BC attempted to chip away at the eight-run lead for FSU. The Eagles scored a pair of unearned runs in the third inning after loading the bases with two outs.
Sitz looked to be out of the jam with a ground ball to short, but Alfonzo booted the ball and BC scored a pair of unearned runs before Sitz eventually ended the scoring threat with a strikeout.
After giving up a run on a pair of doubles in the fourth inning, Sitz's day was done with one out in the sixth inning after 96 pitches.
"It wasn't my best, but it wasn't my worst," Sitz said. "I feel like it was just average. After that long inning I don't know what it was, I just wasn't as sharp as I was in the first two and I feel like I left some pitches up, and just wasn't hitting spots as great as I was."
Bryant Holtmann took over with a runner on first and second with one out. The left-handed reliever struck out the first batter he faced, but allowed an unearned run charged to Sitz to come around on a throwing error by Brizuela at third. Holtmann ended the inning on strikeout.
Holtmann allowed no hits and struck out three in two innings of work, but walked three batters as he was lifted with one out and two runners on in the eighth inning. Gage Smith needed just two pitches to induce a 4-6-3 double play.
Smith picked up his first save of the year as he worked a scoreless ninth inning, inducing another double-play after allowing a lead off single.
"The team really showed poise when they started to rally," Martin said. "Gage comes in and gets the big double-play ball. It was a good win for our baseball team."
FSU goes for the sweep against BC on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, streamed live on ESPN3.com. Peter Miller (2-0, 1.32 ERA) will start for FSU opposite of Andrew Chin (1-2, 8.00 ERA).