Quote:FSU 000 001 431  9  7  0
HP  000 000 100  1  5  2

W - Sauls (2-0)  L -  Manglallan (2-1)

Seminoles score late to rack up the runs
by Drew Hankin

Florida State improved to 21-1 with a 9-1 win over the Hawaii Pacific Sea Warriors at Aloha Stadium on Wednesday night.  Mark Sauls pitching 5.2 innings of two-hit scoreless ball to move to 2-0 on the season.  Ryan Strauss threw three innings of relief to close out the game and earned his first career save as a Seminole.

Center fielder Shane Robinson extended his hitting streak to twenty-seven games with yet another multi-hit game, and pinch hitter Ruairi O'Connor hit FSU's first Hawaii-homerun with a three-run shot to left in the seventh inning.

The first five innings of the game were dominated by outstanding pitched and solid defense from both teams, but it was the Seminoles who struck first with a run in the top of the sixth when left fielder Gibbs Chapman singled to center field, stole second, and scored on a base hit to left by designated hitter Brant Peacher.

Florida State began to run away with the game in the next inning when shortstop Ryne Jernigan walked and stole second, before moving to third on Robinson's first hit of the day, a high chopper over the pitcher's head, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Chapman.  After catcher Aaron Cheesman was intentionally walked, O'Connor's second homerun of the season gave the Seminoles a 5-0 lead.

The Sea Warriors' only run of the game came in the bottom of the inning with an RBI-infield single off of Strauss, by shortstop Grandon Costa.

With one out in the eight inning, third baseman Bryan Henry and shortstop Nick Francis both walked, before both runners advanced on a passed ball.  Robinson's second basehit of the game brought Henry home, and Francis scored on the errant throw to first base that went up the line.  Chapman then tripled in Robinson to make it 8-1.

The Tribe's final run of the game came in the top of the ninth when right fielder Brandon Manasa reached on an error, went to second on a wild pitch, third on a fly ball hit by first baseman Ryne Malone, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Henry.

Florida State has now won thirteen games in a row, and will face tougher competition against the University of Hawaii for next three games, Thursday through Saturday, before heading back home. Game time for Thursday's game is 11:35 EST.

Section B Online Player of the Game:
Gibbs Chapman (2-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 3B, BB)