Florida State stops pitcher's bid for NCAA record

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Posted 6:29AM on Saturday, April 5, 2003

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - Florida State stopped Kyle Sleeth's bid for an NCAA record 27 straight victories Friday, scoring six runs in the first three innings in a 7-5 win over Wake Forest. Sleeth, who had not lost since a 9-1 defeat loss to Clemson on March 25, 2001, trailed 2-0 before getting an out. Tony Richie's double to left scored Stephen Drew and Eddy Martinez-Esteve and the Seminoles added a third run in the inning when Tony McQuade scored on a fielder's choice. Junior left-hander Trent Peterson scattered six hits over eight innings and struck out seven to improve his record to 6-0. Daniel Hodges pitched the ninth and surrendered four hits and two runs, allowing an earned run for the first time in 29.3 innings this season. Sleeth, now 6-1 for the season, gave up seven runs on 11 hits, struck out eight and walked six over eight innings. The 26 consecutive wins leaves him tied with former Brigham Young pitcher Scott Nielsen, who set the mark over several seasons, ending in 1983. During the streak, Sleeth made five starts without any decision. He is now 30-4 in his Wake Forest career. Florida State (29-5, 7-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) took a 4-0 lead in the second when Drew doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Martinez-Esteve. Jamie D'Antona's three-run homer in the third inning, his 10th of the season, pulled Wake Forest (20-8, 6-3) to within a run at 4-3. But that was all they would get off Peterson, who came into the game with a 1.73 earned run average, And the Seminoles added two in the bottom of the third to take a 6-3 lead on rbi's by Derrick Smith on a ground out and Blake Balkcom's single. Balkcom scored in the eighth when Sleeth walked McQuade with the bases loaded.