Section B Online

Monday May 05, 2008

	AT BAT				BALL					STRIKE					OUT						H/E
		2	1			3					2					2					H
				1	2	3	4	5	6		7	8	9	10			RUNS		HITS			E
FSU				0	1	2	0	0	0		1	0	0					4	1	2		1
CU				0	0	0	0	0	0		0	2	0					2		9		1

FSU Sweeps Series With 4-2 Victory Over Clemson

by FSU Sports Info.

Third-ranked Florida State (40-7, 22-5 ACC) claimed just its second road sweep over Clemson (24-23-1, 10-16-1), and fourth all-time since joining the ACC, with a 4-2 victory Monday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Seminoles improved to 16-3 in games decided by two runs or less, while the sweep avenged last year’s series loss at home to the Tigers. With the win, the Seminoles also captured their second straight Atlantic Division title.

“You don’t even expect to come up here and do this,” explained head coach Mike Martin on completing the sweep of Clemson on Monday. “It was a credit to our ball club. No question the win on Saturday night was a momentum lift for our club being in the situation that we were in. Doing what we did showed a lot of character and I’m very proud of this baseball team.”

Freshman Geoff Parker (5-1) turned in an outstanding effort on the mound in the series finale working 7.2 innings allowing two runs on eight hits. He kept the Tigers off the scoreboard for the first seven innings before Clemson cut into the Seminole lead with a pair in the eighth. Parker registered six innings in which he faced just four batters. He induced a pair of groundball double plays in the fourth and fifth innings including a four pitch inning in the fourth.

“It felt good,” said Parker on picking up the win against Clemson. “I was hitting my spots and throwing my pitches where I needed to throw them. It was definitely one of the best performances that I have had so far this year.”

Jack Rye went 2-for-5 in game three with a pair of RBIs and a runs scored. He notched his fourth home run in the third, while Dennis Guinn collected his 14th round tripper with a solo shot in the seventh.

Buster Posey finished the game with three hits registering a hit in his first three plate appearances. Tyler Holt extended his streak of reaching base to all 47 games as he drew a one out walk in the fourth. The freshman centerfielder also added two sacrifices bringing his season total to 10. Tony Delmonico and Mike McGee each collected two hits in Monday’s victory.

Florida State loaded the bases with one out on three consecutive singles by Stidham, Posey and Rye in the top of the first. But the Seminoles would come up empty handed as Clemson starter Trey Delk (1-1) got a pair of fly outs to keep the game scoreless.

The Seminoles got a run in the second to take an early 1-0 lead. Tommy Oravetz and McGee registered back-to-back hits on a single and a double down the right field line, respectively to kick start the inning. Two batters later Holt sent a sacrifice fly to right scoring Oravetz for the first run of the ball game.

Like Florida State in the first, Clemson loaded the bases in the bottom of the second but couldn’t push a run across. After registering the first two outs of the inning on a fly out and a fielder’s choice groundout, the Tigers collected a single to left center and a walk before Parker induced a groundout to second by Mike Freeman to end the inning.

The Garnet and Gold added two more runs in the third on a two-run homer to right by Rye. Posey led off the inning with his second hit of the game on a single through the left side of the infield and scored on Rye’s fourth round tripper of the season. The senior right fielder took a 2-0 offering from Delk and deposited the ball into the ‘Cajun Café’ bleachers located beyond the right field fence for a 3-0 Seminole advantage.

Guinn gave the Seminoles a four-run lead in the seventh on a two-out solo shot to left. The senior first baseman hit a line drove out to left on a 1-2 pitch from Casey Harman for his 14th round tripper of the season, tying him with Buster Posey for the team lead.

Clemson broke through with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Seminole lead in half. Hogan hit a two out, two-run single to left scoring Jeff Schaus and Ben Paulsen. The hit would close the book on Parker, who kept the Tigers scoreless over seven innings of work.

Jimmy Marshall entered out of the bullpen and got Chris Epps on a fly out to center to end the inning. Marshall would return to pitch the ninth and after giving up an infield single to short, got pinch hitter John Hinson to ground into a double play before getting Freeman out on strikes to end the game. It was career save number two for the junior right hander.

Florida State returns home for the final eight games of the regular season beginning Wednesday, May 7 against Jacksonville. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. on Mike Martin Field inside Dick Howser Stadium. Fans can watch the game live over the internet on ACC Select while gametracker will be available for the contest. The game can also be heard live over the radio on 1270 the Team with Eric Luallen providing all the play-by-play action.

Click here for a complete boxscore

Section B Online Player of the Game:
Geoff Parker
(7.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K)