This time it was the Seminoles turn to come back. Down
4-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Florida State
scored six unanswered runs over the next four innings and then
held on for a 7-6 victory. FSU rightfielder Mike Futrell
had a huge game blasting three solo home runs to lead the
Seminoles offense. Most of the offense for the Cardinal
this afternoon came from Chris O'Riordan (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) and
Jason Cooper (2-for-4, 3 RBI).
Stanford jumped on the board early with two scores in the top
of the first inning. O'Riordan and Sam Fuld led off the
game with consecutive base hits and then both came across to
score on a single off the bat of Cooper. Florida State cut the
lead in half in the bottom of the inning on a Tony Richie RBI
single off Stanford starter Mark Jecmen (4 1/3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3
ER, 1 BB, 6 SO). But unlike last Sunday, Jecmen settled
down and showed signs why he could be a very special pitcher here
on the Farm. He cruised through the second, third, and
fourth innings retiring 9 of the 10 batters he faced. The
Cardinal hitters meanwhile added to the lead as they put across
single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Donny Lucy
drove home one of the runs with a groundout while Stanford's
fourth run of the afternoon came home on a double from Cooper
scoring Ryan Garko.
The Seminoles had their big inning in the bottom of the fifth
putting across four runs to take a 5-4 lead. Futrell hit
his first home run of the game with one out to make the score
4-2. The following hitter, Bryan Zech, then struck out but
reached first base when Garko dropped the ball. That little
opening was all Florida State needed as they went on to get three
more hits in the inning, knocking Jecmen out of the game and
taking the lead for good. FSU added an insurance run in
the sixth inning on Futrell's second homer of the game.
This coming after first baseman Donny Lucy dropped a routine
pop-up in foul territory to prolong the at-bat. Futrell
then hit his final homer of the afternoon in the eighth inning,
extending the lead to 7-4.
Stanford would not quit though as they mounted a rally in the
top of the ninth. Scott Dragicevich led off the inning by
reaching on an error and after Andy Topham struck out,O'Riordan
belted his first home run of the season, a blast to right center,
cutting the Seminole lead to 7-6. Sam Fuld then stepped up
and singled bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. But
Ryan Garko flied out and then Fuld was thrown out trying to steal
second with Jason Cooper in the batters box ending the game.
Game Notes :
* Blair Varnes, FSU's #1 starter, made a relief appearance
today. Varnes, who was knocked out of the game in the first
inning on Friday after giving up six runs, threw much better
today tossing 3 2/3 innings while giving up only one run and
three hits and was credited with the win.
* After going just 2-for-12 in the Fullerton series last
weekend, Chris O'Riordan turned things around and went 6-for-15
with a home run this weekend.
* Freshman Donny Lucy started all three games this weekend for
the Cardinal and went 5-for-13 with 7 RBI.
* Three of FSU's seven runs this afternoon were unearned.
Stanford 2
0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 -
6 12 3
Florida State 1 0 0 0 4 1 0 1
x - 7 10 1
The Cardinal return home this Tuesday evening for a single
game versus the BYU Cougars. First pitch is scheduled for
6pm.