FSU baseball defeats Western Michigan to improve to 10-0 on season
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Florida State improved to 10-0 with an 8-3 win over Western Michigan Sunday afternoon at Fluor Field. FSU pounded out 16 hits – tying a season high, including home runs by Alex Lodise and Jaime Ferrer – while the FSU bullpen allowed one run over the final 8.0 innings.
Cam Smith and Max Williams each had three hits for FSU, and the Noles have had at least one player with three hits in every game this year. Lodise’s home run was his first as a Seminole.
After the Broncos took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, FSU tied the game on a Daniel Cantu RBI double and a Lodise sacrifice fly. Williams triple scored James Tibbs in the third inning and FSU never looked back.
Andrew Armstrong earned his first win of 2024 with 2.0 scoreless innings. Brennen Oxford earned the save by throwing the final 4.0 innings, his second save of 2024 and third of his career. His 4.0 innings were a career best and his six strikeouts tied a career high.
Florida State closed the First Pitch Invitational beating Michigan State, Illinois and Western Michigan.
SCORING SUMMARY:
T1 | WMU 1, FSU 0 Sullivan sacrifice fly, Mee scored
T2 | WMU 2, FSU 0 Budig home run
B2 | WMU 2, FSU 1 Cantu doubled, M. Williams scored
B2 | WMU 2, FSU 2 Lodise sacrifice fly, Cantu scored
B3 | WMU 2, FSU 3 M. Williams tripled, Tibbs scored
B4 | WMU 2, FSU 4 Lodise home run (353 ft)
B5 | WMU 2, FSU 5 Holbrook singled, Faurot scored
B7 | WMU 2, FSU 6 Ferrer home run (371 ft)
B7 | WMU 2, FSU 7 West singled, Faurot scored
B8 | WMU 2, FSU 8 Ross scored on a balk
T9 | WMU 3, FSU 8 Rick home run
OF NOTE:
Freshman pitcher Matt Sauser made his first career start. He is the only FSU freshman at any position to start this year.
Cam Smith extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games with a first inning single. Smith, Jaime Ferrer and James Tibbs have reached base safely in all 10 games this season.
Smith was 3-for-4. FSU has had a player with at least three hits in all 10 games to begin the season. Smith has at least three hits in five games this year.
Ferrer hit his second home run of the season – both this weekend – and has 18 career home runs.
Alex Lodise hit his first home run as a Seminole in the fourth inning. He set the North Florida record for home runs by a freshman with 16 last season.
DeAmez Ross stole two bases against the Broncos. He leads FSU with 5 on the season and tied his single-game career high. For the year, FSU is 21-22 on stolen base attempts.
Max Williams gave FSU the lead with a triple in the third inning, his second of the season. FSU has seven triples on the season and entered the weekend 6th nationally in three-baggers. Williams set a career high with three hits.
Florida State trailed 1-0 after the first inning, the only time FSU has trailed after a complete inning this season. FSU tied the game in the second inning and took the lead for good in the third inning.
Drew Faurot hit his team-high sixth and seventh doubles.
Florida State is one of six remaining undefeated Division I teams. FSU has started 10-0 for the 13th time in program history.
UP NEXT:
Florida State will play five games at Dick Howser Stadium this week, beginning Tuesday against Florida Gulf Coast. That game against the Eagles will begin at 6:00 p.m. and stream on ACC Network Extra.For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU baseball remains perfect following win over Western Michigan
