The Daily Nole

Florida State Collapses in Loss to USF

Mike Olivella/FSU athletics

Florida State self-destructed in the ninth inning, sending six different pitchers in to record the final three outs of the game. South Florida (3-1) plated four Bulls in the top of the 9th to beat Florida State (2-2) by a score of 4-2 at Dick Howser Stadium on Tuesday. It was USF’s first win over the Seminoles since 1989.

“What is so frustrating is that we didn’t make the other team earn their runs,” head coach Mike Martin said following the loss. “We gave them those runs.”

The Good: USF’s plate discipline in the ninth inning was probably the only “good” thing that took place in Dick Howser Stadium on Tuesday night when you look past FSU pitcher Andrew Karp’s career performance. The Bulls plated four runs on one hit in the top of the ninth.

The Bad: The Seminoles sent six different arms to the mound in the top of the ninth. Chase Haney, Jim Voyles, Alec Byrd, Will Zirzow, Steven Wells Jr., and Drew Parrish all saw action in attempt to end the 30-minute inning. The six relievers combined to walk three batters and hit one. Closer Jim Voyles goes home with the blown save. Byrd picked up his first loss of the season.

The Ugly: Both the pitching and hitting should fall under the ugly category here, but since this is Florida State’s second time being 1-hit in four games, the lineup wins the award. A lineup that has been pegged as one of the best in the country is off to a very slow start. Rhett Alpin recorded the Noles’ only hit in the first inning. Alpin doubled to right field, scoring Taylor Walls from second. The Seminoles hit .036 (1-for-28) as a team. Five of the nine Noles that struck out went down looking.

Studs of the Game: Andrew Karp was phenomenal on Tuesday night. Karp threw a career-high seven innings, retiring nine batters by way of the strikeout. USF managed just three hits off the redshirt sophomore.

“What a throw away start… the guy was absolutely gorgeous tonight,” Martin said of Karp’s performance.

Duds of the Game: Dylan Busby continues to struggle early in the season. Busby went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. The junior was caught looking on two of them. Busby is 1-for-20 on the season with a .050 batting average.

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