UCF transfer pitcher Cam Leiter introduced himself to the Seminole faithful in a resounding way on Opening Day Friday.

Leiter, a right-hander, struck out a career-high 13 and allowed just one hit across five innings, helping Florida State to an 11-0 win over Butler at Dick Howser Stadium in front of 4,975 fans.

"I had a good outing," Leiter said.

"I was just trying to put up zeros, have clean innings and let the guys go to work. We've got a good-hitting team. Letting them score and putting up zeroes. They got runs early and they did a great job."

Lights out Leiter

Leiter faced 18 hitters and threw 89 pitches, helping him eclipse his previous high of 11 strikeouts in back-to-back games with UCF against Tulane and Cincinnati.

His performance was just what FSU head coach Link Jarrett expected. He said it was exciting to see Leiter keep his performance consistent from FSU's preseason games.

"It starts with the guy on the mound and Leiter was good, and we've seen that," Jarrett said.

"We've seen it in the outings in the preseason and to see it with another team was clearly good. Good can visualize how many nights he's [Leiter] has sat there and thought through what his first start would look like at Florida State."

"You probably didn't think that there would be seven left-handed hitters in the starting lineup and he navigated it well."

However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for Leiter as there was one situation in the fourth inning that he had to weather. Butler's Joey Urban was walked to start the inning and then Carter Dorighi registered the Bulldogs' first hit of the game to put runners on.

Leiter was able to strike out the next three batters and maintain the shutout. That was the only hit Leiter allowed and one of just four the Seminoles allowed the entire game.

"It's time to go. These guys are on base and it's time to get them out," Leiter said when asked about having two on in the fourth inning with no outs. "I just had to grind it out."

Offense breakthrough late

Leiter shut down Butler's offense, making up for FSU's slower showing on the bats early on.

"I know it was a 3-0 game, but we were taking some really good swings and really good at-bats, but there wasn't really much to show for it," Jarrett said. "When you pitch like that, and there wasn't too much defense to be played, it's fine...I'm just proud of the guys from top to bottom. First pitch to last."

However, a grand slam by James Tibbs in the sixth, a two-run home run from Max Williams and a solo shot by Cal Fisher, both in the eighth, helped ignite the bats.

Both Williams and Fisher hit their first career home runs in the game.

"I don't know if I've ever seen back-to-back home runs, first career at-bat," Jarrett said. "Williams and Fisher, we've seen them do that and I was trying to find ways to get these guys engaged in the game. We're going to play earlier tomorrow and it was late and chilly.

"There were a lot of reasons, but we wanted to get the guys that deserved to play in there. I hope we get more chances like that."

The FSU offense finished with 14 hits and four Seminole pitchers combined for 22 strikeouts.

DeAmez Ross led the scoring effort for FSU with three runs scored on two hits. Tibbs had a team-high four RBI. Designated hitter Marco Dinges went 3-for-3.

The Seminoles took advantage of Butler's mistakes early on as three of their runs were scored on wild pitches. DeAmez Ross scored in the first inning off a wild pitch to put FSU up. In the second, Alabama transfer Jaxson West and Tibbs both scored on wild pitches to build up a 3-0 lead early.

"We needed that game to be broken open a bit because baseball is crazy," Jarrett said. "We were pitching well and our at-bats were good, but that game could've been 3-3 and you'd feel like we've swung the bats well and pitched well, but they're [Butler] right there in the game."

It was a big night for a pair of local players: UCF transfer Drew Faurot (Florida High) and West (Chiles). Both earned starts in their first game at FSU as Faruot was at second base and West at catcher.

Faurot was 2-of-5 at the plate and scored one run. West was walked twice in three plate appearances.

The Seminoles were able to chase off three Butler pitchers:

Justin Hornschemeier, who pitched two innings and threw four wild pitches; Nick Miketinac, who allowed five hits; and Aidan Hatcher, who allowed the Tibbs home run.

Gulf Coast State transfer Carson Dorsey took over on the mound for Leiter in the sixth. He threw two scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing two hits.

Hudson Rowan entered in the eighth, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out two. Matt Sauser closed out the game allowing no runs, no hits and striking out two.

"Posey's been great and he's helped out a lot of the guys," Leiter said. "We put up 22 Ks so it's not just me. The whole staff out there showed out. We did a great job and just want to keep it going. 1-0 like Link said."

Unexpected tribute

The final score was not lost on FSU fans.

Eleven was the jersey number worn by legendary FSU baseball coach Mike Martin.

Martin, who retired after 40 seasons in 2019 as the winningest coach in NCAA history in any sport, passed away Feb. 1. He was 79.

"To score 11 runs is hard to believe. It's really cool. He's looking down on us. That's for you," Jarrett said as he looked up. "He would've been proud of this. This is his type of game."

FSU faces Butler in game two of its season-opening series at noon on Saturday at Dick Howser Stadium.

The game was originally scheduled for 2 p.m. but was bumped up due to the threat of inclement weather.

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leiter's 13 strikeouts help FSU baseball to season-opening victory