Section B Online

Friday March 19, 2010

	AT BAT			BALL					STRIKE					OUT						H/E
		3			3					2					2					H
			1	2	3	4	5	6		7	8	9	10			RUNS		HITS			E
FSU			0	0	0	0	0	0		0	2	2					4		7		2
UNC			2	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	0					3		7		1

Better late than Never

by Corey Dowlar, Warchant.com
http://floridastate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1065306

Less than a week ago, it was the Seminoles who came out on the wrong end of a ninth inning comeback against Virginia. But Mike Martin’s club turned the tables on the North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill scoring two runs in the ninth to steal the first game of the series 4-3.

After a two run eighth, the Seminoles entered the ninth still trailing by a single run. Freshmen Justin Gonzalez singled before fellow rookie Jayce Boyd doubled to right center to level terms. Tyler Holt and James Ramsey earned free passes to load the bases before a Michael Morin wild pitch allowed Boyd to score from third to put the Seminoles ahead.

New closer Mike McGee wasted no time taking a firm grip of his role setting down the Tar Heels in order in the bottom of the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

“That was fun and exciting,” McGee said of his ninth inning appearance. “I was really happy to get that one.

“When I was warming up in the bullpen, I was like ok, tried to calm myself down and I was a little nervous. Once I got out on the mound and actually in the game, I didn’t really feel like it anymore. Once I threw strikes I was fine.”

Florida State saved their best for last as the Seminoles lineup struggled against Carolina ace Matt Harvey who struck out 11 allowing only two hits and no runs over seven innings. Harvey threw 126 pitches on the night and showed no signs of fatigue striking out the last batter he faced in Justin Gonzalez.

McGee, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI, provided some insight on just how Harvey was able to find success on the hill.

“Harvey was just throwing hard,” McGee explained. “He was throwing hard and away. He kept it low and on the outside corner. The fastball was on the outside corner, and when he threw breaking ball it was sharp. He didn’t have any mistake pitches. He didn’t mess up. He didn’t leave the ball up, or leave the ball in. He pitched really well tonight, when a guy throws that hard and locates well, it can be a long night.”

Once Florida State found their way to the North Carolina bullpen, it was a much different story.

Four Tar Heel relievers combined to throw two innings, allowed four runs over five hits, and walked two. Greg Holt was saddled with the loss, his second of the season. Holt threw one inning allowing two earned runs over two hits, and walked a batter.

“We are playing a team that has accomplished more in the last four years than probably any other team in the nation,” said coach Martin. “That’s the way we look at it, that’s a very good baseball team over there and we just happened to get some breaks tonight. I am very proud of the way our guys hung in there tonight. We kept our poise and never stopped fighting.”

With Friday’s victory, Florida State avoided their fourth loss in five games and avoided their second consecutive loss after falling to Florida in a midweek contest. The Seminoles also brought their ACC record to an even 2-2 and will look to get above the .500 mark for the first time in the 2010 season with a second win on Saturday.

Given the dramatic and exciting nature of the comeback, new air has been breathed into the Seminoles and the never say die attitude has been reinvigorated.

“I really hope we take this momentum from tonight and keep it going through the next two games,” McGee said. “I think it will boost everyone’s confidence and it makes everybody get back into the mindset of never giving up – never quitting on a game. We didn’t give up tonight and it ended up working out for us. Don’t ever stop hitting, don’t ever stop trying and anything can happen in baseball. There is no clock in baseball, so we can keep playing as long as we need to.”

Florida State and North Carolina will do battle once more on Saturday afternoon with southpaw John Gast facing off against right hander Colin Bates. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

Click here for a complete boxscore

Section B Online Player of the Game:

Sean Gilmartin
6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K