The new throwback uniforms made their debut and were followed by another exciting finish as the Noles claimed their second walk-off win in the past three games. After spotting Jacksonville five runs in the first inning, Florida State clawed back and walked it off in the ninth on an Eli Putnam single to win 7-6 and improve to 9-2 on the season. It was a wild one at Dick Howser Stadium, and the Noles needed every bit of their 12 hits and some late-game heroics to get it done.
I know some people may think, but it was JU… To that I say, welcome to midweek baseball! Just ask No. 2 LSU about getting whopped by Northeastern this week. JU is always a tough out, and tomorrow’s game against Mercer will be too (we’re 0-2 in the last 2). The concerns are still there, but we are seeing some good emerge, looking at you, Johnny Abraham.
A Rough Start
The first inning was ugly, and there’s no other way to put it. Starter Rhett Vaughn recorded just one out before the wheels came off completely. Cade Walter led off with a home run to right, and the Dolphins kept the line moving from there. A double, two singles, another single for two RBIs, and by the time Vaughn was pulled, Jacksonville had sent seven men to the plate, scored five runs on six hits, and the Noles were already in a hole before they’d even come to bat. Vaughn was charged with all five runs on six hits in just one-third of an inning.
To their credit, FSU responded immediately. Sheffield doubled to lead off the bottom of the first, Bailey singled him home, Brody DeLamielleure doubled in another, and John Stuetzer doubled to right center to score DeLamielleure. Three runs on four hits, just like that. It wasn’t a full comeback, but it was a statement that the Noles weren’t going away.
The Middle Game
Kevin Mebil came on in relief and was outstanding, working 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts after inheriting the mess Vaughn left behind. Gabe Nard followed with two more shutout frames, and suddenly the FSU bullpen had stabilized a rocky situation.
The offense kept chipping away. In the second, Chase Williams singled, reached third on a fielding error, and scored on a Sheffield sacrifice fly to make it 5-4. Then in the third, DeLamielleure led off with a solo shot to right to tie the game at five. Just like that, the five-run deficit was gone. He has been one of the pleasant surprises of the early season (3 HR on the year) and continues to come up big in key spots.
FSU added another in the fifth when Hunter Carns doubled, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a Stuetzer bunt single. That gave the Noles a 6-5 lead going into the sixth.
John Abraham Shuts the Door
Cade O’Leary ran into some trouble in the seventh, allowing Jacksonville to tie it on a wild pitch with Walter scoring from third. With two on and the tying run having just crossed, Link Jarrett turned to John Abraham, who slammed the door with back-to-back strikeouts to strand two runners. Abraham then worked a clean ninth, picking up three more strikeouts and earning the win (1-0).
He has quietly become one of the most reliable arms in the FSU bullpen, and this was his best performance yet. After a little bit of a shaky start vs. JMU, Abraham has been lights out, racking up 17 strikeouts while giving up 0 runs and not a single free pass.
Putnam Ends It
The ninth inning was everything you could want from a walk-off sequence. Carns led off with a double to right center, and Carter McCulley worked a walk. A balk advanced both runners, Stuetzer was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Putnam delivered, singling to left center to score Carns and set off the celebration. Putnam finished 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs on the night. Stuetzer was one of the quieter offensive stars with 3-for-3, including two doubles and 2 RBIs.
FInal Thoughts
This was a different kind of win for FSU. They came out swinging, fell behind, and then fought their way back through timely hitting and a bullpen that held the line when it mattered most. DeLamielleure’s home run in the third was a momentum-defining moment. Abraham was lights out in the biggest spots. And Putnam, who quietly had a nice stretch at the plate, came through when the game was on the line.
The Noles are now 9-2 and have won five straight. The offensive questions that lingered after the Citadel series haven’t completely gone away (3-for-12 with RISP on the night and 14 strikeouts), but this team showed they can brawl when they need to. Abraham and Mebil have become bright spots. And winning when you aren’t playing your best is still winning. Up next is a scrappy Mercer squad that has taken the last two against FSU. Until then, stay tuned to your source for fan-focused FSU coverage here at Plant The Spear. Thanks for reading and Go Noles!