Video: Martin post-game Q&A following 9-8 loss to UVA
There are losses, and then there are
heartbreakers. Saturday’s 9-8 defeat at the hands of Virginia definitely
qualifies as a heartbreaker.
Florida State entered the top of the ninth inning leading 8-3 before
surrendering six runs in the same frame. Four Seminoles pitchers –
Daniel Bennett, Tye Buckley, Andrew Durden, and Tyler Everett – combined
to throw in the ninth inning allowing six runs on five hits, and walked
four.
Durden, who came in relief of Tye Buckley with two outs, was charged
with the loss - his first of the season.
“I’m obviously in no mood to smile or anything else,” said a frustrated
Mike Martin. “That hurt, that hurt.”
Everett came on in relief of Durden inheriting the toughest of
situations as the bases were full of Virginia base runners and Kieth
Werman at the plate. The infielder entered the plate appearance with a
batting average over .600, produced a two-RBI single to left center that
saw the Cavaliers take the lead for good.
After giving up a walk to Phil Gosselin, Everett induced an
inning-ending ground ball to Jayce Boyd, but the damage was already
done.
“With a five run lead, I thought there was no problem,” said left
fielder Mike McGee. “Even when they started getting guys on, I thought,
ok, let’s just get three outs and we are out of here. That’s why
baseball is baseball. There is no clock, it just goes.”
The Seminoles will look back on this game and see more than one
opportunity to have extended their five run lead even further as they
left nine runners on base throughout the game.
Coach Martin revealed that he wasn’t thinking about what had already
happened beforehand.
“I refuse to believe that,” Martin said. “I look ahead. I don’t try to
look back. I have a lot of confidence in this ball club. They made great
pitches. They made great pitches.”
But with an eighth inning, two-run homer from James Ramsey, it looked
like Florida State had finished the job with the score 8-3. It wasn’t
the case.
Despite the horrific nature of the loss, Ramsey and teammates did their
best to console those that pitched in the ninth.
“I just encouraged the guys to rejoice in their sufferings and blessings
in the same way,” said the right fielder. “We are going to have bad
nights and we are going to have good nights. They beat us in the end and
we made some mistakes that they capitalized on.
“You have to have tunnel vision and see the light at the end of the
tunnel. This is just one little hiccough and an obstacle that we have to
build on. We have a lot of veteran guys that are really good leaders and
show the younger guys that you are going to get something taken from
you. It’s all about how you respond to it. “
Starting pitcher John Gast and Brian Busch threw well in the first seven
innings combining to strike out seven batters while allowing only three
runs on nine hits.
Busch was the pitcher of record heading into the final inning as Gast
only threw four innings.
“I thought both of them pitched fine,” said Martin. “I thought both of
them pitched fine. It was just one of those situations where we kept
getting base runners.”
Even with a sense of disheartenment, the message to the Florida State
dugout was similar to the night before.
“Tomorrow is a new day,” said Martin. “Daylight Savings Time starts. We
start another period of baseball. We have twenty percent of the season
is gone now, so we have eighty percent of our season left in the regular
season. We just have to take this and throw it away.”
Florida State will send Geoff Parker to the hill Sunday as a stopper for
their two-game skid when he faces off against right hander Cody
Winiarski. The Seminoles will look to avoid their first home ACC series
sweep since Georgia Tech accomplished the feat in April of 2006.
“Geoff needs to get out and just do the little things it takes to be
successful,” said Martin. “Throw his breaking ball into location. He’s a
good competitor.”
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