Link Jarrett explains pinch-hitting Jaxson West vs. Jacksonville

The Florida State Seminoles found themselves trailing the Jacksonville Dolphins late in a mid-week game on Tuesday night. That’s when head coach Link Jarrett decided to shake the lineup up, bringing in catcher Jaxson West as a pinch hitter.

After the game, Jarrett explained what went into the decision to pinch-hit with West.

“I think it was [to] spark the offense,” Link Jarrett said. “I could tell McGwire [Holbrook] is giving us tough at-bats, but he was getting frustrated with his at-bats. Jaxson’s over there with a left-handed look, and I just thought the game was telling me it was time to make that move. Right or wrong, I felt it.”

The move worked from Link Jarrett. Jaxson West was pinch-hitting for McGwire Holbrook, another catcher on Florida State who started the game. He immediately got a single that advanced a runner. After that, he stayed in the game as the catcher.

“I wasn’t really doing it for rest,” Jarrett said. “I just felt like you kind of listen to what the game’s telling you. You’re not always right, but I just thought we needed to try that.”

In the eighth and ninth innings, Florida State was able to rally. That tied the game and forced extra innings, and while Jaxson West wasn’t able to come up with the game-winning hit himself, the Seminoles were able to win the game in the 11th inning on a walk-off single to score a run. That came off the bat of Lance Trippel.

With the win, Florida State moved up to 36-10 on the season. The Seminoles are also 25-3 at home this season. On top of that, Florida State is also currently projected to host a regional in Tallahassee once the Field of 64 is announced. However, there’s time for that to change.

Recently, Link Jarrett shared his thoughts on the chance that Florida State could end up with a top-eight seed when it’s all said and done.

“You aren’t going to be a top-eight seed if you don’t start the season well. You can get buried early in the season. Start to finish, you have to play the game properly and play well. Hopefully, you can stay healthy… So, if you come out of the gates on point and have things organized to where the guys understand what they’re getting into. You manage the weekends, you manage some tough midweek games… You have to do that start to finish,” Jarrett said. “We’re on that track. We’re not finished, you have to finish.”

Next up for Florida State is a series on the road against the Pitt Panthers.