Section B Online

Tuesday April 21, 2009

	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
BC			0	1	0	0	0	0		0	0	0					1		3		0
FSU			1	0	2	0	0	1		0	0	X					4		8		0

Seminoles snap their losing streak

by FSU Sports info

Sixth-ranked Florida State (7-3, 1-0 ACC) kept one streak alive while putting another one to rest on Friday night as the Seminoles opened conference play with a 4-1 victory over Boston College (8-3, 0-1 ACC). The win snapped a current three-game losing streak yet kept the Seminoles’ unbeaten streak alive against the Eagles running their all-time series record to 10-0.

In making his first Friday night appearance in just his third career start, freshman Sean Gilmartin did not disappoint firing a career-high eight innings in moving to 3-0 on the year. The Moorpark, Calif., native kept the Eagles off balanced all evening long allowing just one run on three hits.

“Well, I think really it was the Sean Gilmartin show,” said head coach Mike Martin. “We played solid defense, it was a good baseball game, no errors on either side. We obviously got some big hits out of Mike McGee and Ohmed Danesh. It was a good win for us; I was very impressed with Boston College and the way they battled all night long.”

After giving up a base hit to Robbie Anston on the very first pitch of the game, Gilmartin allowed just two more the rest of the way including a solo home run in the top of the second to Barry Butera. Following the home run, the freshman southpaw retired 13 straight batters before issuing back-to-back walks in the sixth. But the walks would go unharmed as Gilmartin got Mickey Wiswall to groundout back to the mound to end the inning.

Gilmartin finished the evening with eight strikeouts and just two walks on 91 pitches. He has now struck out 21 batters on the year, while holding opponents to a .181 batting average.

“Early in the game, I felt confident in pretty much all my pitches,” said Gilmartin. “A little later in the game, I started getting tired in the eighth inning, but overall I felt pretty good tonight.”

On the offensive side, the Seminoles scored four runs on eight hits as five of the eight hits went for extra bases. Mike McGee and Stephen Cardullo each registered two hits a piece, while McGee gave Florida State the lead for good in the third on a two-run blast to right center. Stuart Tapley registered a base hit to left in the eighth as the sophomore third baseman as now recorded a hit in all 10 games this season.

“After a few losses to come out here and play well, it’s definitely a confidence booster,” said McGee. “I feel like we’re back on track and we’re back in the swing of things.”

Florida State broke through with the first run of the game in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. The Seminoles strung together consecutive two out doubles courtesy of McGee and Jason Stidham. McGee laced a double to the gap in right center and scored one batter later on Stidham’s double down the line in right. The run was just the second earned run given up by BC starter JB MacDonald in 14 innings of work.

The Eagles came right back to tie the game in the top of the second with one swing of the bat. Right fielder Barry Butera hit a 0-1 offering from Gilmartin over the fence in right center for his first home run of the season. The blast was the third given up by the Seminole freshman, all solo home runs, in three starts.

The Seminole grabbed the lead for good in the third on the two-run homer by McGee. Cardullo led off the inning with a double just inside the bag at first. McGee then stepped in and deposited a 2-2 offering from MacDonald over the fence in right field for his second home run of the season.

“That home run was huge, Mike is a great hitter,” said Gilmartin. “He is just a great guy on and off the field, that homerun was the difference in the game.”

Ohmed Danesh increased the Seminole lead to 4-1 in the sixth on a solo shot to right for his second round tripper of the season. Two batters later Tommy Oravetz picked up a base hit lining a single through the right side.

Jimmy Marshall put the finishing touches on the Eagles in the ninth striking out the side for his second save in as many chances. The senior right hander has now struck out the side in two straight outings. The appearance for Marshall was his 84th all-time and 82nd as a relief pitcher.

Friday’s night win also moved Florida State to 44-5 all-time on opening weekend in the ACC including a current streak of 21 straight victories.

“Our young men had a little extra hop in their giddy up,” added Martin. “It was a ball game that you could tell from the time the first pitch was made, our young men were getting after it. This one was a little bigger to them and us, the coaches, than you might understand because losing three in a row ain’t no fun.”

Florida State and Boston College will square-off in game two of a three game set on Saturday, March 7. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m., with Sunday’s series finale beginning at 1:00 p.m. Fans can listen to all the action on 100.7 FM, while live video streaming will be available on ACC Select for Saturday’s game only. Live stats will also be available via gametracker on www.seminoles.com.

Click here for a complete boxscore

Section B Online Player of the Game:
Sean Gilmartin
(8.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K)