Ninth inning decides both games as FSU baseball splits doubleheader at Wake Forest
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – No. 8 Florida State split a doubleheader at No. 12 Wake Forest Saturday, winning the opener 9-6 before falling in the nightcap, 10-9.
Both games were decided with the winning run in the ninth inning.
In game one, FSU hit home runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to cement the victory.
After Wake Forest tied the game with a pair of home runs of their own in the eighth inning, Marco Dinges hit the go-ahead double that scored James Tibbs one batter before Jaime Ferrer’s two-run home run provided the final margin.
In game two, Daniel Cantu had his first career multi-home run game, hitting a grand slam in the third inning and a game-tying solo home run to start the ninth inning.
Wake Forest scored a run in the bottom of the frame for the walk-off victory.
Notes from FSU's doubleheader at Wake Forest in ACC baseball
OF NOTE:
Daniel Cantu hit his fifth and sixth home runs in game two, his first career multi-HR game. His grand slam was FSU’s eighth of the season, tying a school record for grand slams in a season (1996).
Cam Smith drew a walk in game one and was 2-for-3 in game two. He has reached base in 49 consecutive games, tied for the 12th-longest streak in FSU history (with Ryan Barthelemy, 2001-02).
Carson Dorsey struck out 11 batters in 6.0 innings, both career highs. It was his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season, behind 10 in 3.2 relief innings vs. Jacksonville.
Connor Hults earned his first career win, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings without allowing a baserunner.
Marco Dinges had three hits in game one and drew two walks with a single in game two, pushing his on-base streak to a career-best 12 games. Dinges’ two walks tied a career high.
James Tibbs, McGwire Holbrook and Jaime Ferrer hit home runs in game one; Max Williams hit a home run in game two. Tibbs leads FSU with 16 HR this year; his 43 career home runs are tied for 11th in program history.
Florida State has a home run in 14 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in school history. FSU also had a 13-game HR streak earlier this season. The Noles have homered in 35 of 39 games in 2024.
Ferrer’s 12 home runs are a career high. Williams has seven, Holbrook has two for the year.
Andrew Armstrong picked off a runner in the third inning, his first of the year and FSU’s eighth of the season.
UP NEXT:
Florida State returns to Dick Howser Stadium Tuesday for a 6:00 p.m. game vs. North Florida. For $2 Tuesday, general admission tickets and select food and beverages are just two dollars.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU baseball drops ACC series at Wake Forest, splits doubleheader