A 4-game skid has become a 2-game winning streak for Florida State. A 3-run seventh inning was the difference on Sunday as the Seminoles downed Notre Dame in the rubber game of a 3-game series at Dick Howser Stadium, 7-5.
With the win, FSU improves to 16-4 on the season and an even 3-3 in ACC play. The Seminoles will open a 2-game home series with UCF on Tuesday evening.
The Good: The offense continues to produce runs for Florida State. The Seminoles plated seven runs on Sunday and have scored at least six in four straight games — the longest streak of the season. Austin Pollock bounced back from a rough start to give the Seminoles a quality outing with six innings tossed, giving up three runs, but only one earned.
The Bad: Maximizing scoring opportunities wasn’t a strength for either team as the two schools combined to leave 17 runners. The Seminoles were unable to take advantage of a bases loaded-1-out situation in the first and managed just one run after getting runners on the corners with no one out in the third. Notre Dame had the bases loaded with one out in a tie game in the seventh, but a ground ball back to FSU pitcher Clayton Kwiatkowski turned into a double play and ended the threat.
The Ugly: FSU went ahead for good with three runs in the seventh, but Notre Dame may be more to blame than the Seminoles are to credit. With two on and two outs, Jerod Herron hit a slow roller to third, which was scooped up by Fighting Irish third baseman Jared Miller and thrown into right field, allowing two runs to score. Herron came around on a wild pitch for the third run of the frame.
Studs of the Game: Austin Pollock’s solid outing after getting shelled last weekend was certainly commendable and welcomed for FSU. Jackson Lueck and Drew Medonza each had two hits and a run scored for the Seminoles. Lueck scored twice while Reese Albert homered for a second straight day. Cole Daily was 3-for-4 for Notre Dame with a run and an RBI. Nick Podkul had two RBIs and a run for the Irish in the loss.
Duds of the Game: Lead-off man Mike Salvatore was 0-for-5 at the dish for Florida State in the victory. Jared Miller was 0-for-3 for Notre Dame. Miller scored a run after being walked, but did commit the game’s crucial error.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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