Quote:WFU 030 000 000  3  5  2
FSU 200 001 01X  4  6  0

W - Lynch (6-0)  L - Hammond (2-6)  S - Chambliss (10)

Bases loaded walk wins it for the Noles
by Drew Hankin

The Florida State Seminoles defeated Wake Forest 4-3 on Saturday night thanks to an eighth inning bases loaded walk to left fielder Ryne Malone that forced in third baseman Bryan Henry and broke a 3-3 tie. The Noles struggled early again, falling behind 3-2 in the second inning, but starter Michael Hyde managed to shut down the Deacon offense after that.

Kevin Lynch (6-0) earned the win in relief, throwing 2.1 innings of shutout ball, while Tyler Chambliss earned his tenth save of the season with a perfect ninth.

The Noles took jumped out to a lead in the bottom of the first inning, when center fielder Shane Robinson led off with a walk, went to third on a double by Malone, and scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher Aaron Cheesman. After designated hitter Brant Peacher struck out, Malone scored when the Wake Forest right fielder Casey Sterk dropped a line drive on a tough play on a ball hit by right fielder Jack Rye.

Sterk made up for his error in the next inning by hitting a two-run double off of Hyde that tied the game. Left fielder Brett Linnenkohl then put the Deacs ahead 3-2 with a base hit to right that brought home Sterk and gave Wake Forest a 3-2 lead.

Hyde stayed out of trouble until the top of the sixth inning when a hit batter and a walk put two on with two outs. Lynch was called on to once again get the Seminoles out of the jam, and did so by striking out the next batter.

Florida State tied the game up in the bottom of the inning when first baseman Danny Wardell was hit by a pitch, went to second on a wild pitch, to third on a groundout, and scored on an infield single by Robinson.

Two innings later, the Noles loaded the bases when third baseman Bryan Henry singled, second baseman Tony Thomas Jr doubled, and Robinson walked with only one out. Malone's walk on six pitches brought home Henry to put FSU ahead by one.  The damage could have been a lot worse, but Cheesman hit a sharp liner right into the third baseman's glove for one out, and gave him plenty of time to step on the bag to get the final out before Thomas could get back.

Left fielder Gibbs Chapman sat out the game with a groin injury, and is not expected to play until next weekend.

The Seminoles improved to 32-7 on the season and 9-2 in conference play, while Wake Forest fell to 14-19 and 7-10 in the ACC. FSU will go for just their second ACC-sweep of the season on Sunday at 1:00 with Hunter Jones (4-1, 4.82 ERA) on the mound.

Section B Online Player of the Game:
Kevin Lynch (W, 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K)