Kasey Lynch and Miranda Mauro (K&M) are out to prove that sports aren’t just for the male gender. Every week we will be giving you updates on what’s going on in the sports world as well as our own perspective on sports-related topics. “Two Girls and Some Sports” is taking the sports column to the next level. And yes, we know what we’re talking about.
The cold weather is starting to die down in Tallahassee just in time for the baseball team to start heating up. This past weekend was the opening weekend for Florida State baseball as they took on a three-day series with the University of Rhode Island Rams at home. For those of you who are unaware of the sport of baseball, it’s the one that takes place at Dick Howser Stadium involves baseball pants, a diamond, bats, gloves and is actually quite relaxing plus fun to watch. What makes the sport even sweeter is the fact that our baseball team is really good and talented. Florida State is ranked 14th in the pre-season NCBWA polls and is fighting to get back to the ACC Championship and beyond this year. This opening series sure shows promise for an exciting season with your ‘Noles.
Courtesy: Seminoles.com
Game 1: On Friday, FSU hit off their season with an exciting and dominating 19-1 victory of Rhode Island. It was only the seventh time that the two teams have met. The win added another opening season victory to their all-time opening day record of 60-7-1. Right handed pitcher #17 Mike Compton got the win for the Seminoles as the offense completely took off and never looked back. In the bottom of the fifth inning alone FSU scored 10 runs (quick fact: In case you did not know, there are nine innings in a baseball game unless the game is tied, which is when they go into extra innings; clearly not needed during this game).
Game 2: Saturday was a little less dramatic as the Seminoles beat the Rams only 8-1. The combination of right handed pitcher, #46 Drew Carlton and left handed pitcher, #14 Tyler Holton held Rhode Island to only six hits. The highlight of the game was in the bottom of the third when #12 John Sansone absolutely crushed a grand slam, which was his second of his career (quick fact: A grand slam is when the bases are loaded (players on first, second, and third base) and the batter hits a home run. This allows all four players to score). The rest of the offense started to take off after this with runs being scored in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning leading to an FSU win.
Courtesy: Seminoles.com
Game 3: Florida State saved the best for last in this series as they completely destroyed Rhode Island 23-4. This completed the sweep of Rhode Island and makes for a very happy Seminole baseball team (quick fact: A sweep is when the team wins every single game in a series against their opponent i.e. FSU going 3-0 against URI). The ‘Noles scored in every single inning except for the eighth and seven players had extra base hits. Something even more awesome about this game was that freshman and right handed pitcher, #26 Cole Sands who is a Tallahassee native, made his collegiate debut.
Although Rhode Island is one of the easiest opponents that Florida State will have to face this season, the team proved that they are not messing around this year. The offense outdid themselves as the pitching was on point. With veteran players like John Sansone on the team and young guns like Cole Sands who are out to prove themselves, this team is in for an amazing season. The attendance at the games this weekend was outstanding and we need to keep it up in supporting out Seminoles. Check out the rest of the schedule for the season here.