Two weeks ago in Jacksonville, Florida State snapped a 5-game losing streak to rival Florida. The Seminoles pounded out 13 hits including four for extra bases in an 8-3 victory.
FSU will host Florida on Tuesday night in the rubber game of the season series, but since an impressive offensive showing in Jacksonville, the Seminole bats have remained cold. In eight games since beating the Gators, Florida State has managed just 23 total runs — an average of less than three per contest. Exclude an 11-7 loss against N.C. State on April 4th and the average hovers just over two.
Florida State managed to take the following series leading up to Easter against N.C. State, but the two victories came despite dismal showings at the plate. The Seminoles defeated the Wolfpack 3-2 on April 2nd despite just four total hits and 1-0 the following day thanks to a splendid pitching performance by freshman Drew Carlton.
During a 4-game losing streak for Florida State, the Seminoles have managed a grand total of four runs. Last Wednesday against Florida Gulf Coast, FSU was shut out for the first time all season in a 5-0 loss at Dick Howser Stadium. Over the weekend, Florida State was swept by Notre Dame, scoring just four runs over the three games.
Throughout the early parts of the season, Florida State had a knack for putting together big innings. Over the last two weeks, the theme has been poor at-bats and squandered opportunities.
In Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Fighting Irish, it looked as though FSU might finally break out of its funk in the sixth inning. D.J. Stewart had singled home the Seminoles’ first run and the bases remained loaded with no one out. Needing only a fly ball to even the contest, Quincy Nieporte grounded into a double play in which Notre Dame got the force at home before Chris Marconcini popped out to end the threat.
With the tying run in scoring position for FSU and one out in the ninth inning, Taylor Walls and Hank Truluck each struck out swinging to end the game as Notre Dame completed the sweep.
Emotions will be running high at Dick Howser Stadium on Tuesday as the Seminoles face their arch-rivals and Florida State will be hoping the rivalry match-up brings with it some much-needed offense. FSU has scored eight runs in each of the previous two contests against the Gators and there may be no better way to get out of a slump than with a breakout effort against a rival.
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