Williams' two-run homer the difference in FSU Baseball's 5-4 win over Miami
Another night, another Florida State rival vanquished.
This one was a whole lot different than the one on Tuesday night — like 14 runs different. But in the end, the No. 10 FSU baseball team won again.
The Seminoles, behind another strong start from Jamie Arnold and a two-run homer from Max Williams, defeated the Miami Hurricanes on Thursday night, 5-4, in front of another jam-packed crowd at Dick Howser Stadium.
Florida State is now 28-5 overall and 8-5 in the ACC. Miami drops to 16-17 and 5-8.
Unlike the Seminoles’ 19-4 win over the Florida Gators two nights prior, this one was in doubt to the very end.
But after Miami cut the FSU lead to 5-4 with a solo homer in the top of the eighth, reliever Joe Charles came on to work two perfect innings in relief to wrap up another win. He was on the receiving end of a beautiful 3-6-1 double play to end the eighth inning and then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the win for Arnold (7-1), who allowed three runs in seven innings of work.
The Florida State offense didn’t have nearly the same output as it did against the Gators on Tuesday night, but the five runs were just enough.
The Seminoles took an early lead with three runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a Williams single, a Jaxson West sacrifice fly and an unearned run.
Miami tied the game in the top of the fifth with three hits off Arnold. But that was all the Hurricanes could get against the lefty, who allowed just four hits and struck out nine in the victory.
Williams then delivered the game’s biggest hit when he took a Gage Ziehl 93 mph fastball and drove a line drive to left field that just cleared the fence. He sped around the bases like he was being chased and then was mobbed by his teammates at home plate.
Charles made sure that homer was enough, and the Seminoles were able to celebrate yet another win over an arch rival.
Florida State will host Miami again on Friday at 6 p.m. And once again — like the Tuesday showdown with the Gators — the Marching Chiefs announced they will be in attendance.
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