Despite a late start due to rain in the forecast, Florida State got its batting practice in early.
Myles Bailey had an RBI double and a two-run homer in the first inning as FSU scored 10 runs en route to a 17-3 victory in seven innings over Northern Kentucky. John Stuetzer also had a two-run homer as the Seminoles batted around and chased the Norse's starter in the first.
“The game was really summarized by the explosiveness of inning 1 for us,” FSU coach Link Jarrett said. “That was really good to see. We need to see that. We have not seen it.”
The Seminoles (13-2) scored 37 runs in the three-game sweep of the Norse. FSU has won nine straight games since dropping two of three in Arlington, Texas.
Bailey went 2 for 3 with a pair of walks and is hitting .391 on the season.
Stuetzer was again in the leadoff spot and went 2 for 5 with two runs scored. He is hitting .359.
In his first game back after injury, Brayden Dowd went 2 for 3 with a three-run homer in the sixth and a solo home run in the fifth.
“It feels really good,” said Dowd, who played center field. “Nobody wants to be hurt. It sucks to miss a couple games there. When you’re injured, you’re kind of itching to get back. … It feels great to just be out there and play the game that I love.”
Jarrett said he felt Dowd’s return allowed the Seminoles to get a left-handed bat lower in the order to break up a large number of right-handed bats.
Designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino went 2 for 5 with a pair of RBI singles. Paulino is hitting .387 on the season. Will Bavaro had an RBI single in the first and an RBI double in the second.
Bryson Moore pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out a career-best seven batters and walking one.
Cole Stokes had two strikeouts in a scoreless sixth inning.
Manny Lantigua added a pair of strikeouts in a shutout seventh inning.
The teams were set to start at 1 p.m, but the first pitch was delayed until 2 p.m. due to rain in the forecast. The weather was favorable most of the afternoon, although some rain arrived briefly in the top of the seventh.
Up next
FSU plays at Florida on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Gators lost the first two games of their weekend series to High Point.
Jarrett said left-hander Payton Manca is “probably doubtful” to pitch the midweek game.
“I don’t know. Probably doubtful,” Jarrett said. “It’s just tenderness in the arm. He’s ok. He just hasn’t recovered from his last outing. And the last one was really good.”
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