TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Seminoles.com) — Bryce Hubbart struck out 12 batters and allowed just two hits Saturday, but No. 20 Florida State (22-16) could not get the bats going in a 3-0 loss to Troy (21-20) at Dick Howser Stadium. Nic Nolan’s solo home run in the sixth inning broke up Hubbart’s perfect game and proved to be the winning run.
Hubbart (5-3) struck out two batters in each of the first five innings and one each in the sixth and seventh. A leadoff double in the seventh inning, followed by a balk and strikeout, ended Hubbart’s day.
Logan Cerny scored on an error to double the score against Hunter Perdue in the seventh. Troy’s third run came in the ninth inning after Cerny doubled, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a passed ball.
FSU’s 17 strikeouts without a walk were one shy of the school-record 18 strikeouts without a free pass.
The Seminoles had multiple chances to get on the scoreboard against Orlando Ortiz (4-4), but left eight runners on base over six innings against the Troy right-hander. In the third inning, Ortiz hit a batter and walked two more, but Robby Martin lofted a high fly to the left field wall that was caught by Rigsby Mosley.
FSU left 10 runners on base Saturday. Before a 1-2-3 ninth inning against Marquez Oates, who picked up his fourth save of the year, the only innings that FSU did not strand a baserunner were inning-ending double plays in the first and seventh innings.
Elijah Cabell and Logan Lacey each had two hits for the Seminoles. Cabell is hitting 7-for-11 during his four-game hitting streak.
Sunday’s rubber match between Florida State and Troy is set for 1:00 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
OF NOTE:
- Starting pitcher Bryce Hubbart set career highs with 6.1 innings pitched and 12 strikeouts, allowing just two hits. Hubbart’s 12 strikeouts match Parker Messick for the most by a Seminole this season.
- Hunter Perdue struck out a career-high four batters in 2.0 relief innings. With Davis Hare’s strikeout in the ninth inning, FSU’s 17 strikeouts without a walk were one shy of the school record (18 vs. Pittsburgh 3/04/2000, vs. Georgia 3/19/1968 and vs. Georgia 3/20/1967).
- Elijah Cabell stole his first two bases of the season and has 14 for his career. Over his four-game hitting streak, Cabell is hitting 7-for-11 with four runs, five RBI, three home runs and three walks. The third-year junior has reached base safely in 25 of his past 26 games.
- FSU tied a season high with three stolen bases.
- Jackson Greene was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance. FSU’s second baseman has reached base in a career-high 10 consecutive games.
- Tyler Martin drew his 38th and 39th walks of the season, the most in the ACC. He has successfully reached base in 49 of his 52 career starts.
- Freshman Wyatt Crowell extended his hitting streak to four games, tying his career high.
- Mat Nelson singled to start the eighth inning, extending his career-long hitting streak to nine games.
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