It was FSU's fourth straight meeting against Georgia Tech. This time, the two met on a bigger stage. The Seminoles survived and advanced in the ACC Tournament on Tuesday. Here's how.
Peter Holland Jr.Tallahassee Democrat
The balls were flying at Truist Field for Florida State baseball (40-14) on the first day of the ACC Baseball Championship.
The game lasted longer than expected in its fourth straight meeting with Georgia Tech (31-22), but it didn't disappoint.
Four Seminoles homered in FSU's 12-9 victory over the Yellow Jackets on Tuesday afternoon. The four homers put FSU at 103 total home runs of the year, which tied the 2008 team for most home runs in a season.
Nine of the 11 batters had at least one RBI, and the Seminoles tallied 13 hits. The first home run started with Marcos Dinges in the bottom first. Dinges gave FSU its 100th home run.
More came in the fourth and fifth innings when the Seminoles collected six runs. Drew Faurot, Jaime Ferrer and Daniel Cantu each hit a two-run homer for the Seminoles. FSU led 8-1 in six innings.
"Top to bottom in the lineup today, very impressed with the at-bats," FSU coach Link Jarrett said in his postgame conference. "You can tell the focus and out of the game. All around (it) was really impressive to me."
FSU earned its first 40th-win season since 2019. FSU has defeated the Yellow Jackets in three of the last four, ending their season.
Georgia Tech wouldn't go away. But FSU's Drew Faurot stopped the bleeding
Just when it looked like FSU was going to run away with a run-rule after producing eight runs in five innings, Georgia Tech wasn't going to leave quietly.
Georgia Tech overcame an 8-1 deficit. The Yellow Jackets went scoreless in five of the first six innings. They finally found their rhythm in the top seventh. Georgia Tech produced seven hits off five runs.
Georgia Tech was down two runs with two outs left in the eighth inning. Faurot made the play of the day with his double play.
After picking up a ground ball, he tagged Matthew Ellis as he headed to second base and threw to Cantu in first base to end the inning.
"Well, at first, I thought I was just going to have the first base, and then it kind of just lined up to where I was able to reach back and tag him out," Faurot said about the double play.
"Cantu made a great stretch at first (base) on the throws a little, you know, towards home plate and did a good job sealing back."
FSU pitcher Jamie Arnold saves the day in ACC baseball tournament opener
Jarrett emptied out his bullpen.
In the ninth inning, the bases were loaded. This was after allowing one solo home run, two walks and a single.
Jarrett had no choice but to call out his ace pitcher, Jamie Arnold, to close out the game. Arnold didn't hesitate as he wanted to close it out for the Seminoles.
Georgia Tech scored its third run with two runners left on base and two outs. Arnold clinched the Seminoles' victory with a swing and a miss. Arnold pitched his career first save.
"We had a short window of pitches that he was going to throw, but he had to do it," Jarrett told the ACC Network broadcast team after the game. "He had to throw it today, and he likes to stay aggressive with his bullpens.
"So the game talks to you, and clearly, it was telling us that it was time to do it."
Pitcher Connor Whittaker made his return to the starting lineup. It was his first start on the mound since Apr. 6 against Boston College. Whittaker only pitched two innings but didn't allow any runs.
John Abraham was the winning pitcher after relieving for Whittaker. He led with three strikeouts and allowed one run and a hit.
What's next for FSU baseball in the ACC tournament?
After eliminating Georgia Tech, FSU now focuses on Virginia. It will be the first time FSU face UVA this season.
The Seminoles must defeat the Cavaliers to get out of Pool D and move on to the semifinals. It also keeps their hopes of hosting regionals alive next week.
The first pitch is at on Friday at 11 a.m.
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
