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The Florida State Seminoles ushered in the 2010 season in winning
fashion brushing aside the Georgia State Panthers 11-3 on Opening Day.
The Seminoles offense was propelled by a productive evening from the
heart of the order as James Ramsey, Stephen Cardullo, and Mike McGee
combined to go 5-for-7 with nine RBI and drew six walks. Cardullo led
the team in RBI on the night plating four runners.
As a team, the Seminoles amassed 11 hits against Panther pitching.
“I think really it was a typical opening day,” said head coach Mike
Martin.
Things weren’t always so comfortable though.
The visitors from Atlanta came out ready to play and got out to a
two-run lead in the second inning. Initially, Florida State ace
Gilmartin struggled with his control surrendering three walks, but
settled down nicely and began retiring hitters left and right.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Sean Gilmartin the least bit un-nerved,
but I thought the first couple of innings he was not the Sean Gilmartin
that I knew,” Martin said. “The third inning came around, and it was
Sean Gilmartin.”
For the California native, it wasn’t until the fourth inning until he
felt completely comfortable.
“After that 1-2-3 inning I think, it was a big inning for me,” Gilmartin
said as he moved to 1-0 on the season with the win. “Early on, I got a
couple of double plays to help me out, but after that 1-2-3 inning, I
really started to settle down.”
Mike McGee, arguably the Seminoles biggest threat at the plate, picked
up where he left off from last season going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a
walk including a home run over the right field fence. McGee extended his
hitting streak to 10 games – a streak he didn’t know he had.
“Oh I do?” McGee questioned. “I didn’t know about that. I had a good one
last year until I got four walks in the Savannah State game, so I think
it started after that.”
The junior slugger led the Seminoles with 19 home runs in 2009 and
finished fourth in the ACC in that category. The Port St. Lucie native
was just relieved to get his first one out of the way tonight.
“Definitely (relieved),” McGee said. “To come out and get your first
hit, your first home run, getting it all out of the way in one swing.
There is always that wait until when you get that first hit of the
season and you can start pressing and stuff. Getting a home run is kind
of the same way. It’s really nice to get one and get it over with and
just hit again.”
Sophomore right fielder Ramsey surprised many Florida State fans showing
up in the second spot on Mike Martin’s lineup card. However, the Georgia
native thrived hitting behind speedy spark plug Tyler Holt with a
near-perfect night going 1-for-2 with two RBI, three walks, and scoring
twice.
Ramsey believed he benefitted by seeing some hitter-friendly pitches
throughout the course of the game.
“Hitting behind a guy like Holt and hitting in front of a guy like
Cardullo, you are going to see a lot of fastballs,” Ramsey explained. “I
had a chance to drive in some runs and that was exciting. It’s a good
opportunity to hit sandwiched in between two All-Americans like that.”
Star centerfielder Tyler Holt didn’t have his best game of his career
going 1-for-3, but still found ways to get on base and score four times.
Holt stole his 50th career base in the fourth inning which was sure to
be his first of many steals on the season.
But for Holt, the excitement of Opening Day took precedent and it showed
as he got his teammates fired up before the game.
“It’s always awesome to have Opening Day finally,” said a relieved Holt.
“Get out here and compete against someone else besides your own pitching
staff.
“It’s been a long wait.”
Junior reliever Tyler Everett was extremely effective in relief pitching
two complete innings, allowing two hits, while striking out a
career-high five hitters.
Florida State and Georgia State will return to Dick Howser Stadium at
2:00 p.m. on Saturday for game two of the three-game set. Geoff Parker
is set to start for the Seminoles against Panther southpaw Aidan
Francis.
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