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Bullpen redemption gives FSU baseball series-winning victory over Louisville
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- Bullpen redemption gives FSU baseball series-winning victory over Louisville
After getting swept by Clemson in ACC play last weekend, Florida State baseball head coach Link Jarrett wanted a strong response this weekend from the Seminoles' bullpen against Louisville.
In game three of its ACC series against the Cardinals (17-11, 3-6) Saturday, FSU's arms were clutch.
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A 9-4 win over Louisville gave the Seminoles the series-clinching victory at Dick Howser Stadium in front of 6,018 fans.
The win wrapped up an eight-day stretch where FSU (22-5, 5-4) played seven games and went 3-4.
"It was a nice response after yesterday and I thought we had a little more energy," Jarrett said.
"(Connor) Whittaker had got us out of the gate. I thought they game-planned well and were on it a little bit, but he got us far enough into the game to a bullpen that was far more fresh than we have been."
Strong response from Seminole bullpen
Florida State baseball faced Louisville on March 30, 2024 at Dick Howser Stadium.
Right-handed pitcher Conner Whittaker (4-0) picked up the win, allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out two over five innings.
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The rest of the effort came from the relievers - lefty Brennen Oxford , righty Joe Charles , lefty Carson Dorsey and lefty Andrew Armstrong .
Over four innings, the group allowed one run on four hits, walked two, and struck out four of 18 batters.
A passed ball in the eighth inning was the only run FSU's bullpen allowed in the series.
Including the midweek victory over Florida in Jacksonville, Seminole relievers surrendered one run in 17.1 innings.
"If you come out of the bullpen and you're prepared and you enter that game field with your 'A' stuff, you have the upper hand because they haven't seen you yet that day," Jarrett said.
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"We executed and it was well done."
Fisher makes an impact, Tibbs continues to roll
Florida State baseball faced Louisville on March 30, 2024 at Dick Howser Stadium.
Freshman infielder Cam Fisher made his first career start and made the most of it.
The shortstop hit his second career home run in the fourth, handing FSU the lead, and finished 2-for-4.
"You get Fisher in there yesterday (Saturday) and he had two great at-bats," Jarrett said. "It seemed like he earned the chance to go out there and start a ball game. I was pleased with everything that he did...
James Tibbs III recorded his team-leading 11th home run of the season off a two-run slam in the third. He was a career-best 4-for-4. He now has three home runs in his last five games.
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The Seminoles out-hit the Cards 12-10.
"Tibbs had great at-bats and had great management of what he was doing," Jarrett said. "It's not easy. There's a lot of stuff coming at you with that pitching staff...Tibbs having a big day was not easy."
Jarrett said that he wanted to give the team Easter off before heading into another busy stretch next week.
FSU will host Jacksonville (Tuesday) and Bethune-Cookman (Wednesday) before traveling to Boston College this coming weekend.
Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU baseball rolls to 2nd ACC series victory with win over Louisville
