Hunter Carns powered a dominant offensive outburst, driving in five runs as the Seminoles unleashed a potent display of hitting to snap their losing streak.
After a rough week that saw Florida State lose four games to rival Florida and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Seminoles finally displayed what winning baseball looks like.
The Seminoles (25-11, 9-6 ACC) wielded their bats with precision, banging out extra base hits (two doubles and a home run) and eight hits in all.
The Noles matched their run production from the previous two series in a single night as nine runs crossed the plate, and FSU pitchers rang up 12 strikeouts as Florida State defeated Stetson 9-2 at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee.
With the win, Florida State improved their home record to 17-3.
Designated hitter Hunter Carns led the hit parade, going 3-for-5 and five RBI, including a double and home run. Catcher Nathan Cmeyla also hit a double with two runs batted in. The Seminoles erupted for five runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach for Stetson (14-22, 5-9 ASUN).
The Hatters managed just two runs, committed four errors and left nine base runners stranded.
Florida State coach Link Jarrett went to his bullpen early and often again, using four pitchers. Cooper Whited (2-2) got the start and the win. Whited, Jake Echols, Chris Knier, and Ben Barrett combined for those 12 strikeouts and walked only two batters.
Jarrett, addressing the media after the game Tuesday, spoke about the importance of the extra base hits,
“Massive. Massive. The game is built around extra base hits. You have to have those. And the personnel that can provide it need to be on point enough to provide the extra base hits. I've told you we would like 40 percent of our hits to be extra base hits.
"Now, do you have enough hits for the 40 percent to actually be relevant? So, if you do, and the percentage of extra base hits high, then your offense can be very dynamic. So, we need that. And I don't know that we've checked box A very much. And you know, you lose quite frankly what might be the best power hitter in college baseball that his percentage of extra base hits was on the upper end of the scale.
"So, you're trying to find ways to create and with runners on, when we do get it and he's able to deliver an extra base hit, it changes the game because our I think our pitching for the most part can keep us in some things. But we all know we're going to have to score and you're going to have to put crooked numbers on the board at some point because other teams we're going to play are also offensively capable and we can't hold teams down in every one of the games."
The Seminoles will turn their attention to their weekend conference series against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (17-15, 7-11), a team that made a trip to the College World Series in 2022 with Jarrett at the helm.
How to Watch
Date: Friday, April 17
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Dick Howser Stadium, Tallahassee
Streaming: ACC Extra
Radio: 100.7 FM WFLA
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!