FSU sweeps Hofstra with 13-6 win
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Much like Florida State's other two first-time starting pitchers, Sunday starter Mike Compton took a little while to settle in on the mound in his first collegiate start.
The freshman righty gave up two runs in the first inning, but settled down after FSU regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning. He didn't give up another run in his final four innings as the Seminoles cruised to a 13-6 victory on Sunday. The victory gave FSU the series sweep.
Compton gave up two earned runs on four hits and two walks in his five innings of work, striking out three batters on 76 pitches to earn the win.
"Definitely had the jitters the first inning there," Compton said. "Had to get the nerves out of me, but I let my defense play. Got a lot of ground balls and the defense was spectacular making great plays behind me."
After giving up two runs in the first on a pair of RBI doubles, Compton faced the minimum in each of the next four innings as the two Pride baserunners were picked off. The infield also turned one of its four double plays for Compton.
Down 2-0, FSU answered right back with five runs in the bottom half of the first. Devon Travis got things started with an RBI double as he slid from the leadoff spot the two hole in the lineup.
After an RBI bases loaded walk from John Nogowski, fellow freshman Jose Brizulea drove in a pair of runs on a single to center. Brizulea finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI.
FSU added another run on an RBI fielder's choice by Seth Miller. Once Compton took the ball with the lead, it was smooth sailing.
"Having your offense put five runs on the board, it's definitely a little bit of comfort knowing that they've got your back so they're going to put runs up for you," Compton said. "You've just got to go out there and put zeros on the board for your guys so they can get back in here and start hitting for you again."
In the sixth inning, Nogowski a Tallahassee native, opened things back up for the FSU offense with his first career home run on a 3-1 pitch to left field. The freshman thought he had worked a walk on the pitch prior to the home run but was called back to the plate. Once he made contact with the ball he knew it was gone as he raced around the bases.
"As soon as I came in all the guys were joking around me that I've got to slow down my home run trot," Nogowski said. "Rounding second I just tried to take it all in. It was awesome, not a better feeling."
The Seminoles scored two more runs in the inning and added another in the seventh.
After two scoreless innings from Robert Benincasa out of the bullpen, Hofrsta tightened things up a bit as they scored four runs on true freshman reliever Bryant Holtman to cut the lead to 10-6.
FSU answered back with three runs in the bottom of the eighth before Mack Waugh clinched the series sweep with a scoreless ninth inning.
"I was just very impressed with the Hofstra team, but at the same time very impressed with our guys, the way we played the game and took it to them," FSU head coach Mike Martin said. "There was not any 'Well we've got this one.' So to speak. Yeah they kept coming back at us but it wasn't something that we did. You've got to give them credit for accomplishing that."
Compton was the second true freshman to earn a victory over the weekend for the Seminoles. On Tuesday righty Luke Weaver will attempt to become the third as he gets the start against Jacksonville University at 4 p.m. ET at Dick Howser Stadium.
Notable
After not stealing a base in the first two games, FSU swiped three bags on Sunday as James Ramsey, Seth Miller, and Justin Gonzalez each picked up a stolen base.
Hofstra stole six bases on Saturday, but The Pride were 0-for-2 on attempts on Sunday.
An announced attendance of 4,651 came out for the game at Dick Howser Stadium on Sunday.