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Florida State baseball completes weekend series sweep of Western Carolina with 20-7 win
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- Florida State baseball completes weekend series sweep of Western Carolina with 20-7 win
Yoel Tejada did not record an out in his first career outing for Florida State baseball.
It did not matter, as the Seminoles' offense sparked the team a sweep of Western Carolina on Sunday with a 20-7 victory in front of 4,433 fans at Dick Howser Stadium.
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It's the first time FSU (6-0) has scored 20 runs in a game since Feb. 15, 2020, when it defeated Niagara 24-4. FSU scored in every inning except the fourth and fifth innings, including six in both the third and eighth innings.
Right fielder James Tibbs III had the exclamation point of the offensive attack for FSU with a grand slam in the third inning to give FSU 11 unanswered runs after the Catamounts (3-4).
It was his second grand slam of the season and the third of his career. The Seminoles are off to a 6-0 start for the second straight season under second-year head coach Link Jarrett.
Tibbs also added a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning.
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Second baseman and former Florida High standout Drew Faurot was 3-for-4 with four RBI, pushing his batting average to .538.
The Seminoles added six runs in the bottom of the eighth, aided by three errors by the Catamounts. The run total surpassed last year's high of 19 runs on March 17, 2023, against Boston College.
Tejada - a 6-foot-8 transfer sophomore from Florida - lasted just three hitters, as he threw 12 straight balls, walking all three hitters he faced.
Jarrett quickly pulled him in favor of Noah Short, who was able to get out of the inning, allowing just two runs, despite entering with the bases loaded and zero outs. Short (1-0) earned the victory.
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The Seminoles offense responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning, chasing WCU starter Cannon Pickell before he recorded an out. FSU scored two runs on wild pitches and another pair of sac flies, including one by Drew Faurot.
After tacking on another run in the second inning, the third saw the Seminoles open up the game, highlighted by the grand slam by Tibbs, who had six total RBI for the night. Jaxson West had an RBI single in the frame.
Every starter in the FSU lineup reached base at least once, except shortstop Alex Lodise. The Seminoles walked 10 times and struck out just five times.
Matt Sauser helped stabilize the game for FSU out of the bullpen, going three scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fifth inning. He pitched three innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits, striking out four and walking one.
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Up next:
The Seminoles host South Florida (4-2) at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Dick Howser Stadium before traveling to Greenville, S.C. to play three games over the weekend in the First Pitch Invitational.
Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports), Instagram (tlhnolesports) and YouTube channel (NoleSportsTD).
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: James Tibbs hits grand slam as FSU baseball sweeps Western Carolina
