RALEIGH, NC. (Seminoles.com) — Florida State brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning, but the Seminoles dropped a second straight game at NC State by a 6-4 score Friday evening. The series loss snaps a five-series winning streak for the Noles.
Florida State (28-21, 19-16 ACC) had guys on throughout the game, but FSU left nine runners on base and hit into three double plays. Mat Nelson had his ACC-best 60th RBI and threw out two runners on the bases.
Jackson Greene hit his second home run of the season to start the ninth inning.
Both teams started Friday with two runs in the first inning. Tyler Martin led off with a single, swiped second base, moved to third on Logan Lacey’s sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch. After Nelson reached on a two-base error, back-to-back singles from Robby Martin and Elijah Cabell gave FSU a 2-0 lead.
Austin Murr led off the Wolfpack with a single before Tyler McDonough tied the game on a two-run home run. Nelson threw out a runner and Conor Grady settled in two strike out the next two batters.
Lacey and Nelson teamed up to give FSU a lead again in the third inning. Lacey hit his 12th double of the season, down the left field line, and scored on a bang-bang play at the plate on Nelson’s single.
Grady struck out two batters in all four innings he pitched, setting a career high in his 11 starts away from Tallahassee. NC State tied the game on a double steal in the third inning but Grady worked around a leadoff double in the fourth to leave with the game tied.
NC State had four singles against Wyatt Crowell (1-3) in the fifth inning, with just one leaving the infield, to score two runs and take a 5-3 lead. A run in the seventh inning scored on Luca Tresh’s ground out.
FSU’s first eight hits of the game came from the first five batters in the lineup before Greene’s home run out of the No. 9 spot. Nelson, Tyler Martin and Robby Martin each had two hits.
Sam Highfill improved to 5-2 for NC State, allowing three runs in 6.0 innings. Evan Justice earned his seventh save, allowing a run over the final two innings. Murr, McDonough and Jonny Butler, NC State’s top three hitters, finished 8-for-11 and scored all six runs.
SCORING SUMMARY:
T1 | FSU 1, NCS 0 T. Martin scored on wild pitchT1 | FSU 2, NCS 0 Cabell singled, Nelson scored; R. Martin advanced to secondB1 | FSU 2, NCS 2 McDonough home run, Murr scoredT3 | FSU 3, NCS 2 Nelson singled, Lacey scoredB3 | FSU 3, NCS 3 McDonough stole home, Butler stole secondB5 | FSU 3, NCS 4 Murr scored on a wild pitch; McDonough advanced to third, Butler advanced to secondB5 | FSU 3, NCS 5 Tatum singled, McDonough scored; Butler advanced to thirdB7 | FSU 3, NCS 6 Tresh grounded out, McDonough scored; Butler advanced to secondT9 | FSU 4, NCS 6 Greene home run
OF NOTE:
- Tyler Martin has reached base in 59 of his 63 career starts with his first-inning single. He stole his sixth base of the year and scored his 48th run, both team highs. He also had his 15th multi-hit game, third-most on the team.
- Mat Nelson scored his 44th run of the year in the first inning, second-most on the team. His single in the third inning scored Logan Lacey, his ACC-best 60th RBI of the year and he hit his 15th double of the year in the fifth inning. His 20 multi-hit games are a team high.
- Lacey doubled in the third inning, extending his hitting streak to a career-best nine games. His 12 doubles are three behind Nelson for the team lead.
- Conor Grady struck out eight batters Friday, his most in 11 career starts away from Tallahassee (previous high was 7 at Miami earlier this year).
- Elijah Cabell reached base three times (single, two walks).
- The Seminoles fell to 18-3 when scoring first.
For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, or keep up with the team on social media through Twitter (@FSUBaseball), Facebook (/FSUBaseball), and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
