Seminole Saturday Summary: FSU Women’s Tennis Ascends Into Top 5, Martin Jr. Gets First Win as Noles’ Head Coach

It’s been a season unlike any other so far for Florida State’s women’s tennis team.

After beating No. 22 Georgia Tech on Sunday to close out the ITA Indoor Championships in Chicago, FSU ascended to No. 4 in the ITA rankings. That is the highest that the Seminoles have ever been ranked.

The 4-2 victory over the Yellow Jackets on Sunday served as FSU’s fifth over a ranked opponent this season. The Seminoles returned home on Saturday to collect a pair of easy victories over Air Force and Florida A&M.

For the season, FSU is 9-1 with the only loss coming to a top-5 UCLA team. The win over Air Force served as the 300th of head coach Jennifer Hyde’s career. Nandini Das is 16-3 in singles duals for the Seminoles this season.

Tyrell Brewer finished with three RBIs and four runs scored for FSU in Saturday’s win over Niagara. (FSU athletics)

The Mike Martin Jr. era for Florida State baseball didn’t start on the right foot, but the Seminoles bounced back in a big way on Saturday to get their first-year head coach his first career win.

After allowing three runs in the ninth inning in a 3-1 loss to Niagara on Friday night, FSU blasted the Purple Eagles on Saturday, 24-4.

FSU blew things open with an 8-run second inning. Carter Smith had the first home run of the season for the Seminoles while Tyrell Brewer and Elijah Cabell each scored four runs. Cabell finished 2-for-2 with four RBIs. Brewer and Smith each plated three runs.

The younger Martin was tabbed to replace his father, Mike Martin Sr., who won more games than any coach in any college sport ever with 2,029 wins. Martin Jr. is now 2,028 wins behind his father.

Parker Messick earned the win for the Seminoles on Saturday. FSU will go for the series victory on Sunday.

Football

Weekly Commitments: None
2021 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 16 nationally, fourth in ACC (5 total commitments)*

Men’s Basketball

Record: 21-4 (11-3 ACC)
Ranking: No. 8 AP Poll; No. 8 USA Today Coaches Poll
Past Week: (1-1), lost at Duke, 70-65; beat Syracuse, 80-77
Upcoming: vs. Pittsburgh (Tuesday); at NC State (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Weekly Commitments: None
2020 Recruiting Class Ranking: No. 45 nationally, 10th in ACC (2 total commitments)*
Big Picture: FSU lost a top-10 match-up with Duke early in the week, but found a way to grit out a victory over Syracuse. The Seminoles are currently in great position for a double-bye in the ACC Tournament.

Weekly Review

(8) FSU 65, (7) Duke 70
Monday, Feb. 10
Florida State missed opportunities at Duke on Monday night as the Seminoles shot just 38 percent from the field, 3-for-18 from deep and 12-for-20 from the foul line. The last FSU lead came with less than eight minutes to play on a 3-pointer by Malik Osborne. Duke answered with a 3-point play from Vernon Carey Jr. and never trailed again. With FSU down three twice in the final minute, Javin DeLaurier and Matthew Hurt combined to go 6-for-6 from the foul line to put the game away. FSU’s Trent Forrest finished with a game-high 18 points, nine rebounds and eight steals. Osborne added 14 points in the loss. Tre Jones and Jordan Goldwire each scored 13 points for the Blue Devils. Carey tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

Syracuse 77, (8) FSU 80
Saturday, Feb. 15
A layup by Patrick Williams with less than two minutes to play put Florida State ahead for good as the Seminoles outscored the Orange 16-9 to end the game. Elijah Hughes had a 3-point attempt for the Orange late in regulation that would have tied the game, but it rimmed out. The Seminoles led by as many as 11 in the second half, but Syracuse clawed its way back with numerous easy baskets and FSU turnovers. Hughes led all scorers with 25 points while Joe Girard added 22 in the loss. Williams paced the Seminoles with 17 points. M.J. Walker added 16 points in the win. Trent Forrest tallied 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting to go with six assists and two steals.

Women’s Basketball

Record: 20-4 (9-4 ACC)
Ranking: No. 14 AP Poll; No. 14 USA Today Coaches Poll
Past Week: (1-0), defeated Virginia, 63-55
Upcoming: at Duke (Sunday); vs. Wake Forest (Thursday)
Recognitions: Kiah Gillespie, F (ACC Player of the Week, ESPNW Player of the Week, Citizen’s Naismith Trophy Midseason 30, Katrina McClain Award finalist)
Big Picture: After a rough stretch, Florida State has won three straight games. The Seminoles go for a season-high fourth straight ACC win on Sunday.

Weekly Review

Virginia 55, (17) FSU 63
Sunday, Feb. 9
The Florida State defense held Virginia to 37 percent shooting and 3-for-13 from deep to collect a third straight win. The Cavaliers got as close as four in the final quarter, but the Seminoles answered with an 8-2 run and never looked back. Kiah Gillespie led FSU with 22 points and eight rebounds. Nicki Ekhomu and Morgan Jones each added 11 points in the victory. Jocelyn Willoughby led Virginia with 19 points.

Baseball

Record: 1-1
Ranking: No. 12 D1Baseball; No. 12 Baseball America; No. 14 NCBWA; No. 15 Collegiate Baseball
Past Week: (1-1), lost to Niagara, 3-1; beat Niagara, 24-4
Upcoming: vs. Niagara (Sunday); vs. South Florida (Tuesday); vs. Cincinnati (Friday and Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: After a disheartening loss to open the season, Florida State bounced back to get its first win of the Mike Martin Jr. era.

Weekly Review

Niagara 3, (12) FSU 1
Friday, Feb. 14
Niagara scored three runs in the ninth inning to stun Florida State in the season opener. The Purple Eagles used a pair of bases-loaded walks to take the lead before an infield single by Spencer Marcus added an insurance run. A bunt single by Matheu Nelson in the fifth pushed home the only FSU run. FSU starter C.J. Van Eyk allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out eight in five shutout innings. Alex MacKinnon pitched two innings of scoreless relief to get the win for Niagara.

Niagara 4, (12) FSU 24
Saturday, Feb. 15
Florida State broke a scoreless tie with an 8-run second inning and never looked back as it picked up its first win of 2020. Carter Smith hit the first home run of the season for the Seminoles. Smith and lead-off man Tyrell Brewer each finished with three RBIs in the win. Elijah Cabell was 2-for-2 with four RBIs. Brewer and Cabell each scored four runs. Peter Battaglia homered for Niagara in the loss. Parker Messick worked a perfect sixth to collect the win.

Men’s Tennis

Record: 7-2
Ranking: No. 22 ITA
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: vs. Tennessee Tech (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU enjoyed a week off after a tough stretch.

Women’s Tennis

Record: 9-1
Ranking: No. 4 ITA
Past Week: (3-0), defeated Georgia Tech, 4-2 (ITA National Indoor Championships); defeated Air Force, 7-0; defeated Florida A&M, 7-0
Upcoming: at Miami (Monday); vs. North Carolina (Saturday); vs. Stetson (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: After another victory over a ranked team, Florida State returned home and collected a couple of easy wins. The Seminoles have their highest ranking ever as they get set for ACC play.

Weekly Review

(22) Georgia Tech 2, (9) FSU 4
Sunday, Feb. 9 (ITA National Indoor Championships, Chicago)
After losing the doubles point, Florida State won four of the five singles duals that were finished. Victoria Allen clinched the win for the Seminoles with a 6-1, 6-7, 6-2 win over Georgia Tech’s Rosie Garcia Gross. Nandini Das, Sasha Hill and Andrea Garcia all won in straight sets for FSU.

Air Force 0, (4) FSU 7
Saturday, Feb. 15
Andrea Garcia clinched the match for Florida State with a 6-2, 6-2 straight-set victory over Air Force’s Sydney Fitch. Four other Seminoles won their singles duals in straight sets. The lone dual to go three sets was on Court 6 as FSU’s Mira Stegmann defeated Alex Kuo .

Florida A&M 0, (4) FSU 7
Saturday, Feb. 15
Florida State didn’t lose a single set against Florida A&M on Saturday. In fact, the Rattlers failed to win more than three games on any court. Emmanuelle Salas clinched the victory for the Seminoles with an easy 6-1, 6-2 win over Florida A&M’s Haleigh Porter.

Track and Field

Ranking: Men No. 1 USTFCCCA; Women No. 18 USTFCCCA
Past Week: FSU participated in the David Hemery Valentine Invitational and Tiger Paw Invitational
Upcoming: JDL DMR Invitational (Friday and Saturday); Alex Wilson Invitational (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU participated in two events over the weekend, but surprisingly did not come away with a win in either.

Weekly Review

David Hemery Valentine Invitational
Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15
FSU wasn’t well represented in Boston, but did have three top-20 finishers in the women’s 5,000 meters. Elizabeth Funderburk had the best finish at sixth. Kasey Knevelbaard, Humberto Freire and Tyler Dau all participated in the men’s 1-mile. Knevelbaard finished in under four minutes for the second time in his career.

Tiger Paw Invitational
Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15
Florida State was unable to win an event in Clemson, but had numerous second-place finishes. On Friday, Erin Phelps finished second in the women’s 5,000 meters. Trey Cunningham and Caleb Parker finished second and third in the men’s 60-meter hurdles. Taylor Banks finished third in the men’s 60 meters. Isaac Grimes finished second in the men’s long jump. On Saturday, Milton Ingraham finished second in the men’s shot put.

Swimming and Diving

Ranking: Men No. 15 CSCAA; Women No. 25 CSCAA
Past Week: FSU wrapped up the Auburn Invite on Sunday
Upcoming: ACC Championships (Wednesday through Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: After a solid showing at Auburn, FSU will now prepare for the ACC Championships, which begin on Wednesday.

Weekly Review

Auburn Invite
Friday, Feb. 7 through Sunday, Feb. 9
Over three days in Auburn, FSU claimed eight total victories. In the men’s 200-yard breaststroke, Nevada Wood took home the title as FSU took the top three spots. Also scoring victories for the FSU men were Jackson Seith (100-yard breaststroke), Garvin Jones (50-yard freestyle) and Ryland Sun (100-yard butterfly). Balazs Berecz won both the men’s 200-yard individual media and the 200-yard freestyle for the Seminoles. For the FSU women, Hailey Ladd won the 500-yard freestyle. Alexis Durlacher claimed first in the 200-yard butterfly.

Softball

Record: 6-3
Ranking: No. 5 NFCA Coaches Poll; No. 5 D1Softball; No. 5 USA Softball
Past Week: (2-3), defeated Detroit Mercy in five innings (JoAnne Graf Classic), 12-0; defeated Florida A&M in five innings, 10-2; lost to Washington, 7-0 (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational); lost to Minnesota, 7-6 (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational); lost to Northwestern, 6-2 (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational)
Upcoming: vs. Liberty (Sunday, St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational); vs. UCLA (Sunday, St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational)
Recognitions: Kiersten Landers, OF (ACC Player of the Week); Caylan Arnold (ACC Pitcher of the Week)
Big Picture: After a 6-0 start, FSU has gone winless so far on the Gulf Coast. The Seminoles will play two games on Sunday before an extended rest.

Weekly Review

Detroit Mercy 0, (10) FSU 12
Sunday, Feb. 9 (JoAnne Graf Classic, 5 innings)
Devyn Flaherty and Chloe Culp each went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs as Florida State finished perfect at the JoAnne Graf Classic. Sydney Sherrill was 2-for-2 with three RBIs. FSU broke a scoreless tie with eight runs in the second inning. Kathryn Sandercock threw two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.

Florida A&M 2, (5) FSU 10
Wednesday, Feb. 12 (5 innings)
Elizabeth Mason and Chloe Culp each hit 3-run home runs and combined to drive in seven runs as FSU remained undefeated on the young season. Both scored twice. Kathryn Sandercock allowed an unearned run in two innings of relief to earn the win. Brandice Boatwright and Seriah Brokenborough each drove in runs for Florida A&M.

(5) FSU 0, (1) Washington 7
Friday, Feb. 14 (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational)
FSU left 11 runners on base to open the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational and suffer its first loss of the season. SilentRain Espinoza and Kelley Lynch each homered for Washington. Lynch plated four runs for the Huskies and was the winning pitcher. Kiersten Landers had two of the five FSU hits.

(5) FSU 6, (14) Minnesota 7
Friday, Feb. 14 (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational)
FSU was unable to hold onto a 6-2 fifth-inning lead as Minnesota stormed back to stun the Seminoles. The Golden Gophers pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a walk-off win. After an RBI triple by Carlie Brandt tied the game, Sydney Strelow played the role of hero with the game-winning single. Strelow homered earlier in the contest. She and Brandt both finished with three RBIs. Elizabeth Mason and Anna Shelnutt were each 2-for-4 with two RBIs for FSU. The Seminoles scored five of their six runs in the fifth.

(21) Northwestern 6, (5) FSU 2
Saturday, Feb. 15 (St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational)
Northwestern pushed across five runs in the sixth inning to stun Florida State and hand the Seminoles a third straight loss. After Morgan Newport’s 2-run single put the Wildcats in front, Rachel Lewis added some insurance with a bases-clearing double. FSU’s Cassidy Davis and Northwestern’s Kenna Wilkey each homered in the contest. Danielle Williams allowed just two hits while striking out 11 in a complete-game victory for the Wildcats.

Men’s Golf

Ranking: N/A
Past Week: FSU won the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate
Upcoming: Seminole Intercollegiate (Saturday through Feb. 23)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: In its first tournament in some time, FSU had a strong showing in Mobile. The Seminoles claimed both the team and individual titles.

Weekly Review

1st place at Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate
Monday, Feb. 10 and Tuesday, Feb. 11
Florida State shot -28 in its first tournament of the new year to edge Illinois by one stroke. FSU’s John Pak also claimed the individual title, shooting -15 to beat a pair of Texas State players by six strokes. Jamie Li shot -7 for the Seminoles to finish in a tie for eighth place.

Women’s Golf

Ranking: N/A
Upcoming: Guadalajara Collegiate Invitational (Sunday through Tuesday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU returns to action on Monday after a long hiatus.

Other News

FSU football has officially announced a 2-game series with LSU in 2022 and 2023. The teams first meet in New Orleans and then in Orlando.

With Sunday’s win over Detroit Mercy, FSU softball now has 700 career wins.

FSU football will host Jacksonville State on Sept. 11, 2021.

FSU football will host Southern Mississippi on Sept. 9, 2023.

FSU baseball’s contest with Niagara on Sunday has been moved up to 10 a.m. EST to account for bad weather.

FSU women’s tennis coach Jennifer Hyde earned her 300th career win on Saturday in a 7-0 victory over Air Force.

*247Sports Composite rankings

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.