Quote:FSU 031 110 010  7  14  1
SU  111 300 00  6  10  3

W - Strauss (1-0) L - Elsemiller (0-2) S - Chambliss (4)

FSU beats Stetson by one run again
by Drew Hankin

Florida State made it two in a row over the Stetson Hatters on Wednesday afternoon with their second one-run win over the Hatters in Deland, Florida. First baseman Ryne Malone's base hit in the eighth inning scored left fielder Gibbs Chapman and broke the 6-6 tie to put the Seminoles ahead for good.

FSU overcame a bad start by Hunter Jones who lasted just 2.2 innings and gave up three runs on four hits. Jones biggest problem was the four walks he issued though. Stephen Ochs didn't have quite the control problem, but wound up allowing three runs on four hits as well. Barret Browning was more effective, throwing 1.2 innings of scoreless ball, as was Kevin Lynch, making his 100th appearance as a Seminole, and got out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth. Freshman Ryan Strauss (1-0) picked up the win, throwing a perfect seventh inning - the only one of the game. Tyler Chambliss earned his fourth save of the season, pitching the final two innings of the game.

Centerfielder Shane Robinson extended his hitting streak to nineteen games with a couple of singles, designated hitter Brant Peacher doubled three times, Malone singled and doubled, and shortstop Ryne Jernigan had three hits to lead the Noles offensively.

Stetson took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when a double by left fielder Chris Johnson brought home third baseman Braedyn Pruitt who had walked earlier in the inning.

Florida State came storming back in the second when Peacher's first double of the game scored third baseman Bryan Henry, and Jernigan singled in right fielder Jack Rye and Peacher to put the Noles ahead 3-1.

The Hatters began to chip away at the Seminole lead with a run in the bottom of the inning, but FSU came right back in the third with a run of their own when Malone doubled down the right field line, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single to right by Rye.

Stetson pulled to within one again in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Nick Palmisano scored Johnson who had singled, gone to second on a walk, and to third on a catcher's interference on Aaron Cheesman.

The Noles extended that margin back to two in the top of the fourth when Jernigan reached second on a error, was bunted to third by second baseman Tony Thomas Jr, and scored the unearned run on a Robinson base hit to right.

Things fell apart quickly for FSU in the bottom of the inning when the Hatters took a 6-5 lead against Ochs, off of a two-RBI single by Johnson, and a base hit by right fielder John Destafano that scored Stetson's final run of the game.

FSU wasted no time tying the game up in the next inning when Peacher hit a two-out double to right-center field, and scored on a Jernigan hit up the middle.

Things finally quieted down with two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh before the Noles took the lead for good in the top of the eighth when Chapman singled to right, stole second, went to third on an error, and scored the eventual winning run on Malone's single through the right side.

After two quick outs in the bottom of the ninth, Stetson had the tying run on first base thanks to a walk by Chambliss, but Cheesman gunned him down trying to steal second to end the game.

The Seminoles improved to 13-1 on the season and have the most wins in country, while the Hatters fell .500 with a 4-4 record. Florida State is now 5-0 in one-run ballgames, and returns home for a three-game series this weekend against Appalachian State. Game times are 3:30 on Friday, 2:00 on Saturday, and 1:00 on Sunday.

Section B Online Player of the Game:
Ryne Jernigan (3-5, 1 R, 3 RBI)