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Tyler Holt turned what
was a rather dull and nonchalant series sweep into an event that will go
down in the history books.
The junior outfielder hit for the cycle in Florida State’s 9-5 victory
over Maryland on Sunday. Holt collected all four of his hits in proper
order notching a single, double, triple, and home run to all three
fields.
It was the first time Holt had ever achieved a cycle at any level of
competitive baseball throughout his life.
“Never,” Holt said. “No cycle.”
After accomplishing what is considered the hardest segment of the cycle
– the triple – Holt wasted no time completing the fourth step. On the
first pitch he saw in the fifth inning, Holt launched a mammoth blast
over the left field fence.
The Gainesville native rounded third and was mobbed at home plate by his
teammates as he registered the first cycle for Florida State since 2004
when Stephen Drew accomplished the feat.
“(It was) a new pitcher,” Holt began to explain. “I was just looking for
something to hit. He left it up and I didn’t have to elevate it, it was
just a hard swing and it got going.
“It felt good. Even if you just hit a regular home run, it feels good.
Especially when you put in a good swing and you know it’s out after you
hit it. It feels really good to have an OK start, but then become
yourself and not put so much pressure on yourself.”
Even experienced manager Mike Martin witnessed some history of his own
Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium.
“I’ve been in this a while,” Martin said. “In my life, I have never seen
a single, double, triple, and a home run, in order. I’ve seen a number
of cycles in my career, but I have never seen one that was in that
order. I have to admit, it was a big thrill for me to see that.
“There are two things that really fire me up when I am watching a game.
A no-no and a cycle. That fires me up. I’ll be honest with you guys, I
don’t go to rock concerts, but I guess they light the lighters. I would
have lit a lighter on that one.”
The Seminoles turned to starting pitcher Hunter Scantling instead of
normal Sunday starter Geoff Parker who will throw against Florida in
Jacksonville on Tuesday. Florida State’s coaching staff saw a prime
opportunity to get Scantling a meaningful start and throw a weekend
starter against their arch-rivals Florida.
“We needed to see what Hunter could do,” Martin explained. “We had
kicked around starting Hunter in the past. We were able to give Geoff
another couple of days and Geoff will be the starting pitcher against
Florida. We just felt that here was an opportunity for Scantling.”
Scantling pitched well enough to earn the win in the Seminoles 39th
consecutive victory over the Terrapins.
The big right hander threw five complete innings allowing three runs,
one of which was earned, over two hits. Scantling walked two batters
while striking out one.
“I felt confident out there,” he said. “I kept my composure. Coach said
just get us to five. I knew I wanted to get out there and battle, work
quick innings so we could get back in here and get some runs. I just got
some ground balls and let the defense work behind me.”
Tyler Everett was exceptional out of the bullpen working four innings,
allowing two runs, one of which was earned, over two hits, didn’t
surrender a walk, and struck out three.
Sherman Johnson continued his hot-hitting against the Terrapins
registering his second 3-for-4 effort against Maryland this weekend.
Johnson’s three hits brought his average up to a team-leading .372 on
the season.
Florida State will look to win control of the season series against
Florida when they travel to Jacksonville to take on the Gators at the
Baseball Grounds at 7:00 p.m.
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