TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Behind seven extra-base hits – including three home runs – and 5.0 shutout innings from Andrew Armstrong, Florida State beat Mercer 13-3 in eight innings Sunday afternoon to complete the series sweep.
The Seminoles never looked back after scoring five runs on five hits in the first inning, all with two outs. Every Seminole starter had a hit against Mercer, led by James Tibbs’ 3-for-3 performance with two doubles and two walks. Tibbs now leads FSU with a .341 batting average, 51 runs and 39 walks.
Titan Kamaka also had three hits to match his career high, and his three RBI and three runs were a career high. Kamaka hit his second home run of the weekend and got FSU on the board with a two-run single in the first inning; he is the sixth different Seminole this year with at least three hits, runs and RBI in a game.
Colton Vincent had three hits and three RBI – including his second career home run – while Cam Smith hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning. Smith’s 12 home runs match Ryne Malone in 2004 for the most by Seminole freshman over the last 20 years.
After Mercer cut the deficit to 5-2 with a home run in the second inning, Armstrong (2-3) entered in relief and allowed just two hits with five strikeouts over a career-best 5.0 innings. Both batters to reach after the second inning were retired on double plays.
FSU scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, with McGwire Holbrook’s walk-off single scoring Kamaka to end the game.
The sweep was FSU’s second of the season and first since opening with a sweep of James Madison in mid-February.
SCORING SUMMARY:
B1 | MER 0, FSU 2 Kamaka singled, Tibbs & Smith scored
B1 | MER 0, FSU 4 Vincent singled, Rank scored; Kamaka scored on throwing error
B1 | MER 0, FSU 5 Holbrook doubled, Vincent scored
T2 | MER 2, FSU 5 Cherry home run, Frye scored
B3 | MER 2, FSU 6 Vincent home run
B5 | MER 2, FSU 7 Kamaka home run
B6 | MER 2, FSU 10 Smith home run, Ferrer & Tibbs scored
B7 | MER 2, FSU 11 Ross singled, De Sedas scored
T8 | MER 3, FSU 11 Frye sacrifice fly, Brown scored
B8 | MER 3, FSU 12 Vincent singled, Rank scored
B8 | MER 3, FSU…