It was almost over before the first pitch.

Florida State ruthlessly put the series opener with Duke out of reach in the first inning as the Seminoles plated five runs en route to a 16-3 romp. All nine hitters approached the plate once in the top of the first sharing five runs on five hits between them.

The Seminoles didn’t take their foot off the gas until after the third inning and another multi-run frame that saw Florida State score three times pushing the lead to 10-1.

Florida State did not travel to Durham to take on Duke, rather Cary, North Carolina at the Team USA training complex.

Junior All-American Tyler Holt is no stranger to the complex and took no time to get reacquainted launching the fourth pitch of the ball game over the centerfield wall. It was the second time in his career Holt had homered to lead off a game, the first coming against Miami.

It was déjà vu in the second inning as Holt led off the next frame with another solo home run. The Seminoles catalyst finished going 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and a double.

Holt’s supporting cast featured four other Seminole hitters that registered at least two hits on the evening including Stephen Cardullo who contributed a double and a triple. Florida State finished with 18 hits at game’s end.

While coach Martin’s offense was swinging away, ace Sean Gilmartin kept the Blue Devils in check.

The Friday starter threw eight complete innings of three-run baseball surrendering seven hits and two walks while striking out six. The eight innings of work was a season-high for Gilmartin.

Southpaw Tye Buckley worked a scoreless ninth out of the pen to finish off the Blue Devils.

The Seminoles improve to 27-8 on the season with the victory and have won their fifth straight in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Florida State and Duke will play again on Saturday afternoon as Brian Busch will make his first start for the Seminoles this season taking on right-handed pitcher Dennis O’Grady. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.