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Video: Martin talks double header victory
Taking care of business. That’s what No. 2
Florida State did on Saturday.
Florida State dispatched the Hofstra Pride with relative ease winning
each game of the doubleheader 13-1 and 13-0, respectively.
The Seminoles shutout the Pride in game two marking their first shutout
since 2008 against North Carolina State when Florida State won 1-0. Mike
Martin’s pitching staff was dominant only allowing one run on nine hits
throughout each game.
Starters Sean Gilmartin and John Gast each picked up their second win of
the season in impressive fashion. In their 11 combined innings, the two
pitchers racked up 13 strikeouts while issuing a meager three walks.
“Johnny Gast had another good outing,” Martin said following the second
win. “Certainly Sean Gilmartin had another good outing.
“You have a tendency to just expect outings like that from Sean.
Certainly when you have Johnny now going out and getting better each
time, it is a good feeling.”
Infielder Sherman Johnson turned in a magnificent performance collecting
four hits in five official at bats, plating an astonishing nine runners,
while hitting two home runs. When Johnson wasn’t smashing the cover off
the ball, he showed discipline at the plate drawing three walks.
Afterwards, his manager had nothing but pleasant things to say about his
sophomore infielder.
“I tell you what, Sherman Johnson was en fuego,” said a delighted
Martin. “Gosh, he is really playing exceptionally. You put him at second
one game, you put him at third the next game, and he looks comfortable
about both spots. He’s been an extremely difficult out. He ran the bases
with great intelligence today because we of course are all watching for
that. He is one of those guys that you wish were possibly in another
sport right now where you could give him the ball more often.”
Johnson’s nine RBI was uncharted territory for the Tampa native.
“No,” Johnson answered when asked about a game with similar production
in his past. “Never. I’ve never had six in one game ever.”
While Johnson played the first game at second base, he finished off the
day at the hot corner when Stuart Tapley moved into the designated
hitter’s role.
It was as if there was no change whatsoever. To Johnson, the ability to
play both positions simply comes naturally to him.
“Well growing up I played third base and all through high school I
played second base,” Johnson explained. “Both positions, I am really
comfortable at. But I am getting more comfortable at third base every
day taking ground balls.”
Center fielder Tyler Holt quietly had a day to write home about. The
junior All-American went 4-for-5 from the plate, drew three walks, and
launched his first home run of the season over the fence.
While doubleheaders are not the most common occurrence, Holt figured it
was just another day at the ball park.
“I think we have all been through travel ball,” Holt said. “It’s not
really a different mentality. Obviously it is more wear on your body
coming into the next day, but I don’t think we let up one time today, so
that’s a good sign. We let the game come to us and played it tough. It’s
just being mentally tough, that’s the biggest difference.”
One of Florida State’s usual starters, Geoff Parker, made an appearance
in game one signaling a change in plans for the Seminoles staff over the
next few days. Instead of Parker starting Sunday’s game against Hofstra,
true freshman Robert Benincasa will take to the hill.
Parker will then be slated to make the Tuesday start in Tampa when the
Seminoles take on arch-rival Florida at Legends Field.
“It was good to give Geoff Parker an inning along with Brian Busch,”
Martin said. “We have made a slight change for the next two games. We
are going to start a freshman tomorrow in Robert Benincasa and then on
Tuesday against Florida we will start Geoff Parker. It was just
something we felt we would do with the problems we’ve had getting games
on time.”
Florida State will attempt to complete their second consecutive sweep
when they return to Dick Howser Stadium to face Hofstra at 1:00 p.m. on
Sunday afternoon.
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