It was another successful day for Florida State (5-0) Saturday as they clinched the series against Western Carolina (3-3) with a final score of 8-4 at Dick Howser Stadium. Sophomore Drew Faurot carried his momentum from Friday, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and his first career triple, scoring three runs. Fellow Tallahassee native Jaxson West earned the start at catcher and was 3-for-4, a home run shy of the cycle and also hit his first career triple.

Starting pitcher Jamie Arnold had a career afternoon after pitching 6.0 innings and striking out 11 hitters, both career bests. His previous career high in innings pitched was 5.1 last season while his previous career high for strikeouts was nine. Hudson Rowan entered the game and pitched 1.1 innings, Joe Charles pitched 0.1 innings in his first appearance after an injury in 2023 and Brennen Oxford closed out the game in the ninth inning. Florida State struck out 18 batters Saturday after leading the country entering the weekend with 17.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

FSU led 8-0 before the Catamounts halved the lead with four runs in the eighth inning. Western Carolina threatened again in the ninth when the first two batters reached, but Oxford struck out the next three batters to preserve the victory and earn his second career save.

SCORING SUMMARY:

• B3 | WCU 0, FSU 1 Ross sacrifice bunt, Faurot scored

• B5 | WCU 0, FSU 2 West tripled, Faurot scored

• B5 | WCU 0, FSU 3 Ross sacrifice fly, West scored

• B6 | WCU 0, FSU 4 Lodise sacrifice bunt, Ferrer scored

• B6 | WCU 0, FSU 5 Cantu double, Dinges scored

• B6 | WCU 0, FSU 6 Faurot doubled, Cantu scored

• B6 | WCU 0, FSU 7 West doubled, Faurot scored

• B7 | WCU 0, FSU 8 Dinges sacrifice fly, Tibbs scored

• T8 | WCU 2, FSU 8 Turner home run, Holton scored

• T8 | WCU 3, FSU 8 Smith walked, Raleigh scored

• T8 | WCU 4, FSU 8 Stocum scored on a passed ball

OF NOTE:

• Tallahassee natives Drew Faurot and Jaxson West both hit the first triples of their careers. Faurot has five extra-base hits in the first two games against the Catamounts.

• DeAmez Ross had two RBI – on a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. Marco Dinges hit his team-best third sacrifice fly of the season.

• Starting pitcher Jamie Arnold set a career-high with 11 strikeouts. His previous high was nine last week against Butler. Arnold’s 6.0 innings pitched were also a career-best.

• Cam Smith extended his hitting streak to nine games, a career high.

• All nine starters for the Seminoles had at least one hit.

• Brennen Oxford’s save was the second of his career and FSU’s first of the season.

UP NEXT:

Game three between the Seminoles and Catamounts is Sunday at 1:00 p.m. FSU will throw RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr. in his first start at Florida State.For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Drew Faurot, Jaxson West lead FSU baseball to series win vs. WCU