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FSU's James Tibbs III changes walk-up song, raises average above .400 over last two games

The biggest adjustment James Tibbs III has made at the plate since Saturday has been his walk-up song.

Since changing his walk-up song from "God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash to "Suavemente" by Elvis Crespo, the Florida State right fielder has gone 7-for-8 and raised his average to .413.

Tibbs helped lead the Seminoles past Jacksonville 5-3 Tuesday with three hits and three RBI at Howser Stadium before an announced crowd of 4,644.

Six FSU pitchers combined on a three-hitter as the Seminoles (23-4) clinched the season series against the Dolphins (13-15) and matched their win total from last season.

FSU won its 23rd game on May 20.

Walk-up songs have crossed every genre of music imaginable over the years in baseball, and Tibbs is displaying both his ear for music and left-handed swing.

The Marietta, Georgia, native changed his walk-up song prior to Saturday's series finale against Louisville, going 4-for-4.

While he traded Cash for Crespo, Tibbs also asked FSU marketing if he could revert back to Cash during the game against Jacksonville if needed.

Tibbs took care of business at the plate.

Tied at 1-1, Tibbs' two-run home run in the sixth inning pushed the Seminoles into the lead for good. He also had a sliding catch in right field to help out defensively.

"He showed his hitting prowess today," FSU coach Link Jarrett said. "He's had several really nice running, sliding, diving plays in right field which is what you'd like to see out of him. He's done it in some key moments."

Tibbs leads FSU with 12 home runs and has 39 for his career - five shy to move into the program's top-10 list. Stephen Drew hit 44 home runs from 2002-04.

Jeff Ledbetter tops the Seminoles' career chart with 97.

Tibbs also has seven games with at least three hits this year.

Pitching depth helps FSU baseball beat Jacksonville at Howser Stadium

Andrew Armstrong (3-0) earned the win against the Dolphins, allowing zero runs or hits in 2.1 innings of work.

Carson Dorsey earned his third save of the season, going 2.0 innings, giving up one hit, no runs, and striking out two. Freshman Brady Louck made his second career start, throwing a career-best 3.2 innings with six strikeouts.

The win saw other key contributions from the Seminoles, who wrap up their five-game homestand Wednesday against Bethune-Cookman at 5 p.m.

  • Pitcher Brady Louck and shortstop Cal Fisher made their second starts of the season. FSU freshmen have started just five games this year (pitcher Matt Sauser vs. Western Michigan was the fifth).

  • Louck set career-highs with 3.2 innings pitched and six strikeouts. He allowed just one hit. Fisher had an RBI double to extend his hit streak to a career-long three games.

  • Jordan Williams pinch-ran in the seventh inning and stole second and third base. He is a perfect 8-for-8 on the year and leads FSU in stolen bases.

  • Drew Faurot (6-for-6) and Cam Smith (3-for-3) also had stolen bases. FSU had at least four stolen bases for the fourth time this year; the Noles are 36-for-38 on the basepaths.

  • Cam Smith singled to start the sixth inning, pushing his hitting streak to seven games and his on-base streak to 37 games, two shy of No. 23 on FSU’s all-time list. Smith’s seven-game hit streak is the longest on the team.

  • Jaime Ferrer was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning, extending his on-base streak to 33 games. Ferrer leads FSU with eight HBPs on the year and has 37 for his career, eighth in FSU history.

  • The game recap from FSU sports information was used in this report.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU baseball's James Tibbs on hot streak with new walk-up song