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Martin post-game Q&A
Another weekend and another three game sweep for the Seminoles baseball
team.
Florida State closed out the weekend series against Hofstra with their
sixth consecutive win defeating the Pride 14-4 on Sunday afternoon.
The Seminoles were their usual high powered selves scoring their 14 runs
over 17 hits. Five different batters collected multi-hit performances
including James Ramsey, Stephen Cardullo, Stuart Tapley, Justin
Gonzalez, and Rafael Lopez.
While the season is indeed still young, head coach Mike Martin is
generally pleased with what he has seen so far.
“We have accomplished a lot in getting people in the game that we wanted
to,” Martin said of the season’s beginning. “We had two or three guys
that pitched today for the first time. It’s nice to see everyone get in
today. We used more people today than we have all year.”
Florida State sent true freshman Robert Benincasa to the hill for his
first collegiate start on Sunday. While Benincasa wasn’t exactly
dominating, the Tampa, Florida native didn’t receive as much help as
Martin and company would have liked as the Seminoles committed an error
in the first inning – the only time Benincasa allowed a run.
The 6-foot-2, 180 pound freshman had some difficulties with his control
allowing three walks in his two innings plus outing. Benincasa came back
to strike out three Pride hitters while only one of his runs were
earned.
Junior reliever Tyler Everett came on in relief throwing three complete
innings of one hit baseball. The Tallahassee native also struck out two
and for his efforts was awarded the win, his first of the season.
“Coming into a situation like that and minimizing the damage,” Everett
said of his role. “Getting the offense back in so they could get back to
work.”
Everett, a pitcher that looks to be going through a renaissance of
sorts, believes that the only major difference for him on the hill this
year is an additional year of experience.
“One more year of experience,” Everett explained. “I am just more
comfortable I would say. I keep telling the freshman that. It’s just
their first year and they will have plenty of opportunities.
True freshman infielder Justin Gonzalez had another terrific day at the
plate going 3-for-4 with four RBI including a bases clearing double.
Gonzalez showed some patience at the plate drawing an additional walk
bringing his on base percentage to a cool .647 on the season.
After the game, coach Martin had nothing but good things to say about
his young, but talented freshman.
“I’ve said all along that this kid can play third, short, and second,”
Martin said. “This young man is making a statement. I am very proud
because he is a very talented baseball player. He does a lot of things
well.
“He certainly gives us that luxury,” Martin said of Gonzalez’s utility.
“He is a guy that is very comfortable at short or second.”
Coming into the preseason, a lot of talk was centered around the
infielders Sherman Johnson and Devon Travis. Perhaps more attention
should have been given to the freshman from Miami.
Gonzalez didn’t expect to see as much playing time as he has, but has
been taking full advantage of the swings he has been given.
“It’s not much you can say,” said Gonzalez. “I didn’t expect to get this
much playing time. I’m just happy to have helped out any way I could.
I’m just trying to play the best I can and let Eleven give me a shot and
thankfully I came through.”
But when it all comes down to it, Gonzalez is just enjoying playing the
sport he loves.
“Yeah, it’s a lot of fun,” Gonzalez said. “It’s just baseball. It’s a
lot of fun.”
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