Seminoles Chant

Mario Edwards Candid About First Year Growing Pains, Ready for Breakout Season in 2013

Just a little bit over a year ago the Florida State fanbase was reveling over a top 3 recruiting class that included the nation's top prospect, DE Mario Edwards Jr.

Edwards, a 6-4 280-pound monster of a defensive lineman was the most sought after recruit in the country during the 2011-2012 recruiting cycle. He fielded offers from the top programs in the nation but opted to follow his father's footsteps to Florida State where he would hopefully become a star for the Seminoles.

Then August rolled around.

Mario Edwards came to Tallahassee looking for significant playing time in his first year, possibly even to start. Instead after just a few weeks of Fall camp he was told to prepare to redshirt.

"It hit me," admitted Edwards. "But then I couldn't blame anyone but myself, I put myself behind the eight-ball coming in overweight and I wasn't able to produce like I needed to because I was 315."

The redshirt didn't stick.

Midway through Florida State's season opener starting defensive end Brandon Jenkins was lost for the year with Lisfranc fracture and shortly after Jimbo Fisher called Edwards into his office to discuss the team's depth.

"I was a little upset I got redshirted and Jimbo told me just be patient, your time will come," said Edwards. "Once Brandon got hurt Jimbo called me into his office and said alright, bud, this is what you've been asking for and now you've got it."

Edwards went on to play in 11 games over his freshman campaign, starting in the ACC Championship Game and the Orange Bowl and notching 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

But heading into next season, the Seminoles need Edwards to continue his growth both on the field and from a maturity standpoint.

"Mario is finding out that with what I'm asking him to do is taxing and we have to get him into better shape in my opinion and I know it and everyone knows that and he's going to fight through it," said new Florida State defensive ends coach Sal Sunseri at the outset of Spring practice.

"He's going to be good. He's got a lot of talent."

So far this Spring Edwards has been getting after it.

"He's working a lot harder. He's dropped like ten pounds," said teammate, DT Tim Jernigan. "What's really going to trigger him is the coaching he gets. He isn't going to let him come up short of what he can be."

Sunseri is a hard-nosed, old school coach who is going to bring a blue-collar approach to Edwards and his game. And according to Mario, that's exactly what the sophomore DE needs.

"If he's on you and yelling at you it's because you know he cares about you and he's trying to coach you for the player you could be and not the player that you are," added Edwards.

So far the early returns on Edwards have been solid this Spring. He's challenging for a starting position and is making progress on the field and in the film-room. Most notably he feels better right now than he has at any point in his time at Florida State.

"Being with coach Vic [Viloria] and doing all the cardio and all the extra little things like that have helped my body get slim," said Edwards. "I feel a lot stronger and quicker, my ball get-off is a lot better than it was last year because of my weight going down."

Edwards is currently around 290 pounds, though Florida State's coaching staff would like to see his playing weight at 280-285 by the start of next season. Provided Edwards continues to work hard over the summer that likely won't be an issue.

And if his weight stays down, Edwards could be poised for a breakout year.

For starters the Florida State defense, despite accounts to the contrary, is changing quite a bit under new coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. That means less reads and more attacking. That's something that suits Edwards just fine.

"It's better suited for the whole defense, the whole defensive line," said Edwards. "It's more of an attack style, like where all of us came from. We all came from attack-style defenses out of high school so it's basically more comfortable for us."

Also, despite some of the emotional rollercoaster that came with sitting behind Brandon Jenkins, Bjoern Werner and Tank Carradine during his freshman year, Edwards also had the opportunity to learn from three of the top defensive ends in the nation, including two that could potentially be first round draft picks later this month.

"At the time I wasn't thinking about that," admitted Edwards. "But then I started thinking, 'these are the top people in the nation.' I mean I was the top of the nation in high school, this is the top of the nation in college. So I just took it as learn from them and then use it from next year.

"Bjoern was definitely more of a technician, it was his technique and his ball get-off. Tank was just an animal. He wouldn't stop. So I learned just to [not] stop, continue to work on my technique and get off the ball."

Edwards sees himself as a cross between the two potential first-rounders, with Carradine's strength and Werner's quickness off the snap.

"I just think with work and definitely keeping my weight down that I could be one of the names like they were," said Edwards.

We'll start finding out next year...

 

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Florida State Beats Florida Gulf Coast 12-9

After dropping their first series of the season to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg last weekend, the no. 5 Florida State Seminoles (25-4, 8-4 ACC) came into Tuesday night's home date with no. 25 Florida Gulf Coast University (18-7) looking for a chance to redeem themselves.

They did.

On the strength of two five-run innings and some solid relief work from Gage Smith the Seminoles were able to overcome several defensive miscues and a scrappy Eagles lineup to win the first of two games with FGCU by a score of 12-9.

"It was just a well-fought ballgame, in that [FGCU] is a very good baseball team," said head coach Mike Martin after the game. "We had some very good at-bats and I'm just very pleased with that."

Every Seminole in the lineup had a hit (with the exception of CF Seth Miller) including four who had multiple hits. Stephen McGee drove in four runs on a grand slam while DJ Stewart also went 1-3 with a walk and three RBI's. 

The Seminoles got on to the board first with a five-run third inning.

After 1B Casey Smit doubled down the line with one out, 2B John Sansone hit his first career home run, a no-doubter over the left field wall, to make it 2-0 Seminoles.

"[Sansone] is really making a marked improvement offensively. He played very well defensively also," said Martin.

RF Josh Delph followed up Sansone's bomb with a single to left before LF Marcus Davis doubled off the right-centerfield wall to put two men in scoring position with one out. That sent Florida Gulf Coast to the pen, where starter RJ Brown was replaced after 2.1 IP by Zack Tillery. 

Tillery couldn't escape the jam though, after drawing the count to full, Stewart doubled to drive in Delph and Davis and make it 4-0. Two batters later Jose Brizuela singled in Stewart to put the Seminoles ahead 5-0 at the end of three.

The Eagles got one back in the top of the fourth though. After FSU starter Billy Strode hit LF Sean Dwyer with a pitch, he advanced to third on 2B Brandon Bednar's double and scored on a fielder's choice to shortstop. 

FGCU got to Strode (4.1, 4H, 4ER, 2BB, 3K) again in the top of the 5th when they parlayed a pair of singles and a walk into a bases-loaded, one-out jam. That sent Mike Martin to the pen where he called on Jameis Winston.

It was, however, not Winston's day. After allowing one run to score on a wild pitch, Winston walked the first batter he faced to reload the bases. The next hitter sent a grounder to short, but a throwing error on SS Giovanny Alfonzo let two more runs score.

After a single put men on the corners with two down, another wild pitch tied the game at five before a single down the rightfield line gave the Eagles a 6-5 lead and sent Winston packing. Gage Smith came on to replace Winston- who lasted just 1/3 of an inning, giving up two hits and two runs in just 14 pitches- and closed the book on the FGCU 5th.

The junior RHP stayed in the game for another two innings after replacing Winston, striking out two while giving up a hit and an unearned run. It was good enough to earn him his 4th win of the season.

"I was just trying to be aggressive, let them get themselves out. My slider worked well, I actually threw my changeup, which I don't do very often, that worked," said Smith. "We were able to put up that big five run inning [afterwards] and then they're on their toes trying to come back so you've just got to throw strikes. That's what I did."

That five-run answer came in the bottom of the sixth for Florida State.

Smit started the inning with a one-out single, Sansone walked and two batters later the bases were loaded when Davis was plunked by an errant fastball. That brought Stewart to the plate who was able to work the count for a walk and score Smit from third. 

With the bases loaded once again and two out, C Stephen McGee launched a ball over the left field wall for a grand slam to give the Seminoles a 10-6 lead.

"I had a pretty good idea [it was gone], I squared it up pretty good, I would have been upset if it didn't go out," joked McGee after the game. "I was actually looking fastball away but I mean when you hang a ball like that it's pretty easy to just put the barrel on the ball."

The Eagles got one back in the top of the 7th when a throwing error and a fielder's choice allowed C Mike Reeves to score and make it 10-7, but a throwing error on FGCU 3B Nick Rivera in the bottom of the inning gave the run back to the Seminoles and extended the lead back to four runs.

Florida Gulf Coast refused to go quietly though, in the top of the 8th their offense continued to scratch and claw its way back into the ballgame. After three straight singles loaded the bases, a fielder's choice brought in Rivera. 

With men on the corners and one down, the Seminoles went to the pen, replacing Brandon Johnson with Bryant Holtmann. Holtmann was able to induce another grounder for the second out, but the Eagles plated their second run of the inning on another fielder's choice. A batter later the Seminoles escaped with an 11-9 lead following a pop-fly to Brizuela in foul territory.

After an RBI single by Alfonzo made it 12-9 in the bottom of the 8th, Robby Coles came on to work the ninth and pick up his 7th save of the season.

Florida State hosts Florida Gulf Coast for another game tomorrow, Wednesday, April 3, at 6 PM before heading down to Coral Gables for a three-game set with Miami this weekend.

 

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FSU WBB Head Coach Sue Semrau Wins FCA Kay Yow Heart Coach of the Year

The Florida State University women's basketball team had a comeback season this year after taking a step back following their 2011-12 campaign.

After missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in eight years, ending a streak of seven consecutive bids, the Seminoles found themselves back in the NCAA tournament again this year as an 8-seed, losing in the second round to defending national champion Baylor University on the Bears' home court in Waco, Texas.

For her work in turning the Seminoles around after a difficult down-year the season before, head coach Sue Semrau will be honored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on Sunday, April 7th, with the Kay Yow Heart Coach of the Year award.

Named for former NC State coaching icon Kay Yow, the award is presented annually by the FCA to honor a basketball coach who has exemplified biblical principles over the course of his or her career. Yow, who passed away from breast cancer in 2009, was presented with the inaugural award at the 2008 Women’s Final Four.

“I first met Sue when she was Jane Albright’s assistant at Wisconsin and it has been so fun to watch her grow as a leader, coach and, most importantly, as a follower of Jesus,” said Donna Noonan, FCA’s national director of events. “Kay was all about seeing her players become the women God created them to be, and I see that same trait in Sue. We are thrilled that Sue is this year’s winner of the Kay Yow Heart of a Coach Award.”

The winningest coach in the history of FSU's women's team, Semrau has three times been named the ACC coach of the year. In her 18 years at Florida State she has raised the profile of the program while putting girls in the pros and helping most of her players graduate.

This year Semrau had three players named All-ACC as FSU achieved its 8th 20-win season under Semrau and made the postseason for the 10th time in 11 years.

Semrau is also well known for her philanthropic efforts which include a partnership with Samaritan's Feet (and their annual barefoot game) as well as making visits to the Boys and Girls Club at the Coalition for the Homeless in Orlando and elementary schools in Harlem, West Chester and Wadsworth, Ohio and Martinsville, Ind., as well as the Duke Hospital in Durham, N.C.

KAY YOW HEART OF A COACH RECIPIENTS

Year	Recipient	School
2008	Kay Yow	North Carolina State
2009	Jane Albright	Nevada
2010	Nancy Wilson	College of Charleston
2011	Sue Ramsey	Ashland
2012	Deb Patterson	Kansas State
2013	Sue Semrau	Florida State

 

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Florida State Wraps Up First Scrimmage of Spring

The Florida State Seminoles wrapped up their first scrimmage of the spring on Monday behind closed doors in Doak Campbell Stadium. After making it through the first few practices the players strapped on the pads and went after each other in more of a game-setting as they prepare for the April 13's Spring Game.

More than anything Jimbo Fisher and his coaches used the scrimmage and the film it provides to evaluate position battles and take stock of which players and position groups are coming along and at what rates. 

Given the Seminoles' current state of affairs, that means quarterbacks first and foremost.

“Because you aren’t out there with the coach [during a scrimmage] you have to be out there doing it on your own," said Fisher afterwards. "It’s still live in the stadium. I can’t say if there is much more [of a difference with the QB's], but it kind of confirms things I’ve been seeing at practice. I’m not unhappy at all. We’ve made a lot of progress. We made some really great plays. We need to be more consistent. I kind of imagined that right now. But we had some nice plays in the game.”

On the other side of the ball the Seminoles started employing their new defensive scheme, showing multiple looks and blitz packages aimed at confusing the offense.

“There are many more looks to develop your offense and your quarterbacks because of blitzes and other scenarios, and fronts and coverages, which is very good because that allows you to prepare and see them every day and get comfortable with them," added Fisher. "The defense did some really nice things. You move 2’s and 1’s around, trying to experiment with different people. I thought they had a nice day.”

While Fisher didn't say that anyone really stood out at first blush, he did say Lamarcus Joyner flashed a few times in nickel sets.

Joyner, who moved from safety back to corner after the Orange Bowl, will be a jack of all trades for the Seminoles this season and will likely find himself lining up as a nickel corner as well out on the field or boundary when needed as well. More importantly, with so many other corners nicked up and missing time during the Spring he's one of the lone veterans in the secondary. Joyner needs to lead for the Seminoles to be successful, he prefers to lead by example.

Seems like he's on track.

Fisher also mentioned that Austin Barron was day-to-day with a strained back. Meanwhile, high school teammate Bobby Hart continues to fight for a starting tackle position.

“I thought Bobby had a nice day," said Fisher. "I will look at film and see. I know there had to have been some protections he missed. He didn’t jump out at me as doing something glaringly wrong. You notice that with offensive linemen first.”

If Hart can't win the job it's likely Bryan Stork will move to right tackle and Austin Barron will start at center. Depth could be an issue for the Seminoles this upcoming season though- especially at tackle.

Florida State will be back out on the practice fields on Wednesday.

 

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Telvin Smith Enjoying New Role as Leader

Telvin Smith is going to be the vocal leader of the 2013 Seminoles defense. Make no mistake about it.

“I wouldn’t say my role has shifted, I feel like I’ve always been the talkative guy on the team or the spirit of the team a little bit," said Smith. "So I wouldn’t say it’s shifted I’d just say more people are depending on me to do bigger things.”

In the past Smith has been a reserve and key special-teamer. With Vince Williams ahead of him the last few years opportunities to play have been limited. But with Williams now departed, Smith has a chance to run the defense himself and become the leader of the unit.

“Last year it was great with Vince, don’t get me wrong," said Smith. "But there’s nothing like filling your own shoes, living up to the expectations that people have been talking about all these years that I’ve been here. I’m just ready to play.”

Telvin Smith came from Lowndes High School in Valdosta. The same high school that also produced Greg Reid and Tyler Hunter. 

There must be something up in the water in Valdosta because all of those guys bring a lot of energy and noise to the football field. Even before this season you could hear the 6-3 215-pound LB out on the practice field chirping at teammates and getting excited. 

Now as the vocal leader of the defense, the team will look to him even more for that example.

And that's just how Smith wants it, he has big things planned for 2013.

“I love the team and the guys that we got running this defense and I feel like we can really put something together," said Smith.

"Everybody’s got the work mentality, everybody’s on the same page wanting to learn the defense. I feel like there’s no selfish guys, everybody’s putting in time, so when you’ve got that attitude out there, there’s always great things that’s going to happen.”

Smith has great instincts and athleticism and so far he has had an excellent camp, leading the Seminoles in tackles during scrimmages and providing good leadership to younger players as they try and get acclimated to the Florida State defense.

As the Seminoles' starting middle linebacker this will be the year for Telvin Smith to prove that his vocal leadership style actually resonates with his teammates.

If it does, Florida State could have an extremely good defense come 2013.

 

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Seminoles Drop Series to Hokies, Lose Game Two of Doubleheader 8-1

For the first time in the 2013 college baseball season the Florida State Seminoles dropped a series, losing the rubber-match game with Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon by a score of 8-1.

“We made some mistakes but you also have to credit Virginia Tech, they took advantage of them and really poured it on, so to speak, and got a big four spot twice tonight,” said head coach Mike Martin. “When you make some mistakes you expect good clubs to take advantage of it and that’s exactly what they did.”

Florida State is now 24-4 with an 8-4 ACC mark. They lead the Atlantic, but both UNC and Virginia have better records in the Coastal.

After holding on to win the opening game on Saturday 11-10, the Florida State lost to Virginia Tech in the nightcap after giving up two four run innings.

“Virginia Tech has a very solid baseball team,” added Martin. “I was very impressed them. I didn’t see any weaknesses; thought they were strong up the middle. They deserved to win the ball game today, no doubt about it.”

Peter Miller took his first loss of the season. He went 3.1 innings, giving up six hits, four runs, three earned while also recording a strikeout and a walk. He was chased in the fourth inning after the Hokies after a run-clearing triple made it 4-0 Hokies.

Miller gave up back to back singles to start the fourth before recording the first out. A throwing error on Jose Brizuela allowed the first runner to score before CF Andrew Rash tripled to make it 4-0 and send Martin and the Seminoles into their bullpen.

Two innings later in the top of the 6th the Seminoles got on the board for the first and only time when SS Giovanny Alfonzo drove in a run on a groundout, but that would do it for the Seminoles offensively on the night. Florida State mustered just 8 hits the whole game.

In the bottom of the 7th Kyle Bird was charged with four runs after first surrendering an RBI double and then loading the bases for Gage Smith. Smith gave up two singles and allowed the fourth run of the inning to cross on a fielder's choice.

Up 8-1, the Hokies had little trouble finishing off Florida State.

The Seminoles return home on Tuesday for a two game set with no. 25 Florida Gulf Coast University.

 

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Seminoles Hang On 11-10, Win Opener of Saturday Doubleheader

The Seminoles took game one of their doubleheader with Virginia Tech by a score of 11-10 on Saturday after a wild 21-run game at English Field.

After dropping Friday's game to the Hokies, the Seminoles were able to rebound in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader behind some solid relief work and good day at the plate.

The Seminoles batted around in the top of the first, plating five runs and sending 11 men to the dish. After 3B Jose Brizuela extended the inning by beating out a throw to first on a double play attempt to score DH Marcus Davis, the Seminoles plated four more with two outs, including two RBI's by SS Giovanny Alfonzo.

The next inning Florida State pushed their lead out to 8-0 when C Stephen McGee and Brizuela drove in runs with hits and CF Seth Miller added another on a sacrifice fly. 

But that lead did not hold, Scott Sitz, who has been solid for the Seminoles all season, got knocked around in a big 7-run fourth inning that tied the game.

Entering the bottom of the 4th the 'Noles held on to what looked like a stable 8-1 lead, but three errors quickly destroyed the Florida State advantage as the Hokies sent 11 batters of their own up to the dish in the inning. 

The Hokies put together four straight RBI hits despite just one ball making it out of the infield. The inning continued with consecutive fielding errors, first by Sitz and then from Bryant Holtmann (who came on in relief of Sitz). The inning finally ended when LF Tyler Horan was thrown out at third but not before C Mark Zagunis tied the game with a two-run single to right.

Sitz finished the game with 3.2 innings pitched with seven hits allowed and eight runs surrendered, but just one of those runs was earned. 

Holtmann came on to relieve Sitz and worked 2.1 scoreless innings to allow Florida State to steady themselves and come away with the win though. The 6-5 sophomore gave up three hits while stymieing the Hokies' momentum.

The Seminoles retook the lead the next inning when McGee walked with the bases loaded, but couldn't further the advantage in the inning. 

Two innings later in the top of the 7th Florida State increased their lead to 11-8 when a wild pitch scored RF Josh Delph and McGee singled in another RBI.

But Tech didn't go quietly, answering with a run in the bottom of the 7th inning to cut the lead back to two runs, 11-9.

In the bottom of the 9th Robby Coles was tested on his way to picking up his sixth save in as many chances. The Hokies scored one run and had the bases loaded with one out off of Coles before he managed to buckle down and record a strikeout and a groundout to second to escape with a win.

Florida State will play Virginia Tech in game three of the series, game two of today's doubleheader coming up shortly.

 

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Seminoles Stumble in Blacksburg, Drop Opener to Hokies 3-2

Florida State couldn't get the timely hit in their series opening loss at Virginia Tech on Friday night. Brandon Leibrandt took his second straight loss as the Seminoles out-hit the Hokies 11-6 but still fell at English Field 3-2.

“It was a tough loss, but tomorrow is another story” said head coach Mike Martin. “We just didn’t seem to get the key hits when we needed them tonight.”

Virginia Tech's Brad Markey was unspectacular, but effective, going a complete game, giving up 11 hits and two runs while striking out four.

“You have to credit Markey, he did a very good job of getting the curveball over in crucial situations and we didn’t do much with him when it was time to do something,” said Martin. “But give them the credit, they deserved to win and got it done.”

Virginia Tech struck first in the bottom of third after Leibrandt walked two hitters and allowed a single to drive in the first run of the game. Leibrandt walked five in four innings on Friday, taking the loss after giving up five hits and three earned runs. 

“I thought Leibrandt pitched pretty well,” said Martin. “He didn’t dominate but he didn’t give up an awful lot of hits. The walks bothered me though and that’s not going to work.”

Control has now been a problem for Leibrandt his past few outings. In his loss against Georgia Tech last Friday Leibrandt didn't walk anybody, but gave up six hits and four earned runs in his 1.1 innings of work. Leibrandt does currently lead the team with 15 walks on the season though, and has not looked sharp in past few starts.

If he continues to struggle, Scott Sitz and Luke Weaver have both been worthy of the Friday night starter spot in the Seminole rotation.

Leibrandt wasn't alone in his struggles on Friday night though, despite collecting 11 hits, the Seminoles stranded five runners and failed to come up with the big inning they needed to dispatch Virginia Tech.

In the top of the 6th DJ Stewart hit a two-run homer, but beyond that the Seminoles failed to plate any other runs and took their third loss of the season to a ball club that, at least on paper, probably had no business beating their ace.

But baseball is a game played on a diamond, not paper, and on Friday night the Hokies bested the Seminoles.

Giovanny Alfonzo continued to hit well for FSU though, going 3-3 on the evening. Billy Strode and Gage Smith were also on point for the Seminoles, combining for just one hit over the four innings of relief they worked after Leibrandt was knocked out in the fifth. 

Florida State has two more chances to redeem themselves and take the series this tomorrow when they play a double-header in order to avoid inclement weather due in the Blacksburg area Sunday afternoon.

 

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FSU Women Fall to Defending Champion Baylor in NCAA Second Round

The Florida State University Women's basketball team is in Waco, Texas to participate in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. FSU Beat Writer Patrik Nohe is back in Tallahassee covering Spring practice. The following is an official FSU press release:

WACO, Texas -- WACO, Texas -- Florida State knew it was in for the challenge of all challenges in Tuesday night's second-round NCAA Tournament game and Brittney Griner and defending national champion Baylor lived up to the hype in the Seminoles' season-ending 85-47 loss.

And while the No. 1-seeded Bears (34-1) were "as advertised" in their 32nd consecutive victory this season and 57th consecutive triumph on their home floor at the Ferrell Center, the No. 8-seed Seminoles (23-10) deserve credit of their own. 

"Fight" was the team's buzzword throughout the season and FSU did just that in its last contest of the year despite Griner's larger-than-life play (the 6-foot-8 center dunked three times in her final home game) and the presence of a sold out crowd intent on loudly sending her out in style.

"We don't play for personal acheivement," FSU senior guard Alexa Deluzio said. "We play for each other so you can't really stop fighting if that's what you're fighting for."

Griner finished the game with 33 points, 22 rebounds and four assists before checking out for good with 6:06 left. Brooklyn Pope added 12 points, Odyssey Sims had 11 and Kimetria Hayden scored 10.

Florida State did force Baylor into committing 19 turnovers but couldn't find the shooting touch on the opposite end. The 'Noles were 18-of-26 from the field (26 percent) and 27 percent from 3-point range and Baylor was able to shoot 56 percent from the field and 44 percent from long distance.

The Bears also won the rebounding battle, 56-25, and scored 64 of their 85 points in the paint.

"I thought we got great looks, we just didn't knock them down," FSU coach Sue Semrau said. "And I thought that because we are an offensive-oriented team that we struggled mentally and maybe a little bit emotionally with our lack of production offensively and it played into our transition defense."

Tuesday's outcome officially marked the conclusion of the career's of FSU's five seniors; Deluzio, Chelsea Davis, Leonor Rodriguez, Chasity Clayton and Morgan Toles.

Deluzio finished her five-year playing in all 131 games and as the fourth leading scorer in program history after scoring nine points against the Bears. She also finished third in career 3-pointers, fifth and third, respectively, in 3-point field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage and in the top 20 in career assists.

Rodriguez capped off the best season of her career in the top 10 in both 3-point field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage as she scored a team-high 11 points in the game, including three 3-pointers. Like Deluzio, Clayton also played five seasons for the 'Noles and finished with four points against the Bears.

Toles played just 41 games for Florida State after transferring from Auburn but helped solidy the Seminoles' point guard position and lead their balanced offensive attack into the post-season this year.

Davis added five points and three rebounds and junior forward Natasha Howard posted eight points and a team-leading six rebounds. Yashira Delgado scored six points and had two steals. Deluzio and Rodriguez also had three steals on the defensive end.

Baylor never trailed in the game after building an early 11-0 lead.

The contest was watched by former United States President George W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush, who met with and spoke with the Seminoles in the locker room before the game started. 

Seminoles Top Gators 2-1 in Jacksonville

Florida State (23-2) knocked off Florida (11-15) 2-1 for the second time this season on Tuesday night. The Seminoles won the annual series between the rival Florida universities, after winning the first game in Gainesville 4-1 back in Mid-March, Luke Weaver pitched the Seminoles to a victory in Jacksonville to guarantee Florida State at least two out of three.

“It was exciting, it was fun and it’s just something that we are going to enjoy for a couple of days,” said head coach Mike Martin. “We were fortunate tonight to get the win, but very proud to get it done.”

Weaver was lights out for the Seminoles on Tuesday night. The sophomore pitched six strong for the Seminoles, giving up three hits and a run while striking out a career-high nine batters. 

“You look at what has been the story most of the year and that’s our pitching,” said Martin. “It was a game that we got crucial relief work. And you can’t say more about the outing that Luke Weaver had tonight.  To strike out nine in 6.0 innings, I mean that’s a very good baseball team (to do that against).”

“I came out throwing a little too hard, got a little tight in my arm so I had to spot up a little more,” said Weaver. “I was getting a little lackadaisical with first pitch balls so I attacked more and got the counts in my favor."

After Florida State went up 1-0 early, the Gators were able to even the score in the 2nd inning when Connor Mitchell hit an RBI single with two outs to drive in Zack Powers.

That was the only offense Florida would muster all game though.

Unfortunately for Weaver, despite pitching six strong and being good enough for the win, he left with the game in question, tied at one, and took the no-decision.

The game stayed tied until the 8th inning when 3B Jose Brizuela lead off the inning with a double. After a balk advanced him to third, the Gators went to the bullpen and were able to exploit matchups to record the first two outs of the innings.

SS Giovanny Alfonzo came to the rescue for Florida State though when he singled up the middle to drive in Brizuela and give the Seminoles the lead.

“It feels good because last year they shut us out,” said Alfonzo on getting the series victory over the Gators. “It’s nice to know that we won the first two but we still have one more to take care of at home.”

After Bryant Holtmann replaced Weaver for the Seminoles and pitched 1.2 solid innings, Gage Smith (3-0) picked up the win when he replaced Holtmann in the 8th and threw a single pitch to induce a ground ball and escape from a jam.

Robby Coles earned his fifth save in as many opportunities when he worked a flawless ninth to close out the Gators.

FSU and UF will finish their series in Tallahassee on Tuesday, April 9th at 6 PM.

 

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