After a week-long losing streak, Florida State returned home seeking some positive energy. The Seminoles indeed got some big hits in a wild midweek game.
Hunter Carns hit a three-run homer in the third inning and had a two-run double in the seventh as FSU routed Stetson 9-2 on Tuesday night. Carns went 3 for 5 with two runs scored and raised his average to .348.
Brayden Dowd, John Stuetzer and Cal Fisher each scored two runs as the Seminoles snapped a four-game losing skid.
FSU (25-11) produced eight runs, the most it has had since a 9-3 win at Virginia on April 4. But FSU also benefitted from four Stetson errors, while Fisher reached base courtesy of a strikeout and a dropped pop up in the infield.
The Seminoles did strike out 10 times, the 18th game they've hit double digits. And FSU had three errors (one apiece by Nathan Cmeyla, Brody DeLamielleure and Cal Fisher).
Left-hander Cooper Whited (2-2) gave up just one unearned run in three innings. Whited struck out three and didn’t allow a walk, giving up just a single on 33 pitches (25 strikes). FSU coach Link Jarrett said postgame that Whited was pitching a controlled start and the goal was to have him available this weekend for the Notre Dame series.
Jake Echols pitched a shutout fourth inning, striking out two.
Chris Knier tossed two innings. He started an inning-ending double play in the fifth inning, snaring a line drive before looking the runner back to third and throwing to first. When the runner then ran home, Eli Putnam threw home to end the inning.
Knier ran into trouble in the sixth as he gave up four singles and allowed a run before striking out Nelphie Lopez looking to strand the bases loaded.
Brodie Purcell pitched a shutout seventh and eighth, recording five of FSU’s 12 strikeouts. Ben Barrett tossed a shutout ninth.
Juan DeLaCruz went 2 for 4 for Stetson with an RBI single and Samuel Fernandez went 2 for 3 with an RBI single for Stetson (14-22).
Up next
FSU plays host to Notre Dame in a three-game series that begins on Friday at 6 p.m. (ACC Network Extra). Notre Dame (7-11 ACC) has been inconsistent but swept Clemson and won a series at Duke.
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