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This will be remembered as a rough weekend
for Florida State’s baseball team, perhaps the roughest of the season so
far, but it could have been worse.
Virginia Tech appeared headed for a three-game sweep of FSU – an
unthinkable scenario two days ago – on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Dick
Howser Stadium. After winning the first two matchups, the Hokies took a
4-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. But, the Seminoles
rallied twice and came away with a much-needed 9-6 victory in front of
4,210 fans.
The gutsy performance gives head coach Mike Martin 1,600th career wins,
a mark only three other college coaches have reached. It also means the
Seminoles (21-6, 7-5 ACC) avoid losing three straight for the first time
this year against an ACC team it has owned in the past. The Hokies
(20-10, 6-6) entered the series having lost 25 of their last 26 games to
the Seminoles and hadn’t won in Tallahassee since 1989.
“Today was definitely huge,” said catcher Parker Brunelle, who blasted a
two-run homer to left in the seventh to tie the score at 4-4. “We needed
this for our season … every game is big, but it being a conference game
and having our backs against the wall to see our team fight and come
away with a win is big time.”
Ironically, it was the son of a former FSU player who was involved in
Mike Martin’s first win at FSU, who provided two of Seminoles’ biggest
hits. Right fielder James Ramsey followed up Brunelle’s blast with a
deep, two-run shot of his own over the right field wall to put the
Seminoles up 6-4 in the seventh and later delivered a two-RBI single
with the bases loaded in the eighth to put the ’Noles up 9-6.
Greg Ramsey was a team captain on Martin’s first team in 1980.
“We got some exceptional clutch hitting form James,” Martin said. “The
Ramsey family is very dear to all of us and it meant a lot that a Ramsey
would have big RBIs in this game.”
Some more solid relief pitching from Brian Busch may have meant even
more. After another rough outing from starter Geoff Parker, Busch
entered in the fourth and gave up just two hits and one run for the next
four innings.
Busch wasn’t as dominant as usual. The sophomore gave up five walks
after giving up just four in his previous 22 innings. But he worked his
way out of numerous jams, including twice inducing groundouts with the
bases loaded and two out in the fourth and fifth.
Daniel Bennett (1-0) earned his first win despite relieving Busch in the
eighth and immediately giving up a two-run homer to Steve Domecus that
tied the game 6-6. Closer Mike McGee pitched a scoreless ninth to nab
his fourth save.
“(Busch) has been unbelievable this year,” Brunelle said. “He’s been a
great asset to have out of the bullpen. He has command of all of his
pitches and shutdowns teams. You saw what he did against Virginia Tech.
They were hot and he shut them down.”
Busch may not be in the bullpen much longer. Martin said he and his
staff are considering making some changes in the rotation after seeing
his starters struggle against the Hokies. Parker gave up homers to Tim
Smalling and Austin Wates before being pulled after three innings and
Friday and Saturday’s starters (Sean Gilmartin and John Gast) both
failed to get past the fifth.
“There’s been some discussion and it’s certainly not out of the realm of
possibility,” said Martin when asked about changing the rotation. “We’ve
got to look at the tape. Were they really thinking on the mound? That is
the key. That is what the other club did so well. They were throwing
balls out of the strike zone and we chased them.”
FSU leadoff hitter Tyler Holt struck out four times and the team
combined to strike out 12 times.
When asked about what win No. 1,600 meant, Martin’s thoughts quickly
turned to his wife, Carol.
“I will always remember this Easter Sunday,” he said. “I know there
won’t be 1,600 more. I know I’m near the end … I’ve got a wonderful
wife, whether she’s in the stands or at home listening to me complain.
She means a lot and I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am without
her.”
Ramsey said he and his teammates have marveled at the consistency Martin
has had during his career.
“I’m kind of blown away by the fact he’s won 50 some games for 30
years,” Ramsey said. “It’s really a mark that shows he can coach any
kind of player.”
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