The Tigers managed to hang on for the win. How did Auburn prevent an FSU rally?
Florida State baseball faced arguably the best team of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series.
Then took a big lead, only to lose it.
No. 9 Auburn pulled away 8-5 on Saturday down in Arlington, Tex. And the top 10 team needed to erase an early deficit to end FSU's hot 4-0 start.
Florida State jumped out with a 4-0 lead in the first inning off five hits. Sophomore designated hitter Noah Sheffield (son of MLB great Gary) got the scoring started with an RBI single.
Then, FSU’s final three runs all came with two outs, as Gabe Fraser and redshirt sophomore right fielder Brody DeLamielleure both singled in runs. Fraser then scored on a wild pitch for the final run of the opening frame.
But Auburn attached junior right hander Bryson Moore out the gate. Moore surrendered three runs including two earned during the first 4.1 innings. He still managed to strike out three Tiger batters while walking two. But still allowed five hits before being pulled.
Fellow right-hander Cade O'Leary struggled in relief, though. He watched Auburn score three runs off him on four hits through 1.2 innings -- taking the first loss of the season for the FSU pitching staff.
Head coach Link Jarrett watched his offense struggle too -- producing seven hits but scoring only five runs. Worse, FSU left eight runners on base.
Sophomore third baseman/second baseman Gabe Fraser pounded two hits, one turning into an RBI. He added two runs scored to lead the team offensively. Six different FSU players had at least one hit in the defeat: Myles Bailey, Noah Sheffield, Brayden Dowd, Carter McCulley, and Delamielleure.
Florida State got a run back in the eighth, cutting its deficit to 7-5. Then Fraser got hit by a pitch with one out, took second on a two-out single and then grabbed third on a wild pitch. He eventually scored on a dropped third strike. However, Auburn also took advantage of a wild pitch for its final run of the day.
FSU walked into the home of the Texas Rangers on a winning streak inside MLB venues. But the loss snaps a four-game win streak in MLB ballparks for Florida State.
The Noles are now 16-5 in venues that have hosted at least one full season of Major League ball -- as Globe Life Field is the fourth big league park the Seminoles have played in.
Florida State also witnessed a slight change in their record against Auburn: Now sitting at 77-43 all-time against the Southeastern Conference foe but 1-2 at a neutral site.
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