Quote:ASU 001 100 024 8 7 1
FSU 001 902 00X 12 14 3

FSU finishes sweep despite late inning rally
by FSU Sports Info.

Florida State scored nine runs in the fourth and held off a late charge by Appalachian State (4-4) to sweep its fourth, three-game series of the season with a 12-8 victory on Sunday afternoon. The Seminoles ran their record to 13-0 on the year and are off to their best start since 1975 when Florida State started 15-0 under then head coach Woody Woodward. That season was also the first as an assistant coach for current head coach Mike Martin.

FSU also extended its double-digit hit streak to 11 straight games as five Seminole starters registered at least two hits in the ball game.

The Seminoles got another impressive performance from Ryan Strauss as he ran his record to 3-0 on the year. Strauss tied his season-high for innings pitched against the Mountaineers as the junior right hander threw six innings allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out five. Strauss has now worked into the fifth inning in all three of his starts this season.

Buster Posey and Dennis Guinn provided the offensive production for the Seminoles as they both went 2-for-3 with three RBI's and two runs scored. Posey now leads the team in runs batted in with 19 on the season. Guinn sparked the nine-run fourth with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot off the scoreboard in left.

With rain threatening in the area at game time, Sunday's game did not start until 2:35 and was then postponed for 16 minutes as ran rolled through in the second.

After the showers passed, Appalachian State scored first in the top of the third as Wes Hobson singled to left scoring Chris Baker, who led off the inning with a hit up the middle.

Florida State quickly countered in the bottom of the third as Tony Thomas, Jr. got a one out double down the line in left. The double was his team leading tenth of the season as it extended his hitting streak to 13 games. After he successfully stole third, for his eighth swipe in as many tries, Thomas would score on a Posey sacrifice fly to right to even the score at one.

The Mountaineers would answer right back in the fourth as designated hitter Andrew Franco led off the inning with a double to left field. He would come around to score as Strauss got Nick DeRose to bounce out into a bases loaded 6-4-3 double play. Strauss would end the inning as he got Baker to strike out swinging.

The Seminoles would take the lead for good as they posted a nine-run fourth to take a 10-2 lead. Jason Stidham extended his hitting streak to 13 straight games with a single to right field. Brandon Reichert, Thomas and Posey all registered singles in the inning, while Jack Rye hit a double off the wall in right. Stidham earned his second single of the inning and would score on the very next play as Guinn hit a towering two-run homer off the scoreboard in left. It was the second time this season the Seminoles scored nine-runs in an inning with the last time coming in the third game against Tennessee.

FSU would add two more in the sixth as Posey hit a double to right and advanced to third on a single by Rye. The sophomore catcher would score on a passed ball increasing the Seminole lead to nine. With one out in the sixth, Guinn would pick up his third RBI of the game as he knocked home Rye with a single to left making the score 12-2.

Appalachian State would make things interesting as they made a late push scoring two runs in the eighth and four more runs in the top of the ninth. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Mountaineers sent the tying run to the plate in Rand Smith. Florida State brought in Danny Rosen to close the door on ASU as he got Rand to fly out to Mark Gildea in centerfield for the final out and a 12-8 victory. Rosen was credited with the save, his second of the season and second of the weekend.

The Seminoles will return to the diamond on Tuesday, February 27 as they welcome North Florida to Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium. First pitch is slated for 4:00 pm and FSU is expected to send sophomore right hander Bo O'Dell (1-0) to the mound for his third start of the season. Fans can follow all the action over the Internet. Gametracker will be available for the contest along with live radio broadcast courtesy of 1270 the TEAM.

Section B Online Player of the Game:
Ryan Strauss (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)