FSU baseball: Head coach Link Jarrett discusses opening weekend rotation, Wyatt Crowell's role

The starting rotation for Florida State baseball for the opening weekend against James Madison has been set.

Redshirt sophomore Carson Montgomery will be on the bump on opening day at 5 p.m. Friday at Dick Howser Stadium for the Seminoles.

Redshirt Jackson Baumeister will garner the start Saturday (2 p.m.) with freshman Jamie Arnold pitching the rubber match Sunday (11:30 a.m.).

Montgomery posted a 4-1 record with a 5.00 ERA while striking out 62 and walking 23 in 54 innings last season for the Seminoles.

But he has impressed his new head coach Link Jarrett early on.

"He's been very good all preseason," Jarrett said on why Montgomery is the No. 1 starter to begin the season.

"There are a lot of guys who could have gotten the ball first. Somebody has to go out there and try to get us into it. The selection of the three guys also gave us the byproduct of having dynamic guys who are waiting in the wings.

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"We're going to use everybody. There are no pitch counts that are built to the point of feeling like someone is going to throw you seven, eight or nine innings. I don't see that happening. Just out of pure pitch count and out of safety for the guys."

Baumeister went 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA in 19 appearances (two starts), across 27 ⅓ innings last season.

Arnold helped Jesuit win the Class 5A state championship last year as a senior, posting a 7-3 record with 91 strikeouts and a 2.02 ERA in 66 innings.

"He's steady-eddy," Jarrett said of the freshman. "He pitches off the fastball."

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Wyatt Crowell role

A notable omission from the starting rotation is left-hander Wyatt Crowell. The junior is going to start the season as a long reliever for Jarret.

Last season, he finished 6-1 with two saves in 28 games and had a 2.12 ERA, while striking out 72 hitters and walking 17 in 51 innings.

"You feel with someone that dynamic and that experienced in that role, to start the season (there), especially when your pitchers who are starting the games haven't been in that before," Jarrett said.

"I think it gives you some stability to get through an opening-type weekend. He's clearly going to pitch and is capable of pitching a good amount. We just thought that was the most logical way to go about and what was best for the team as a whole."

Crowell also spoke to the media on Thursday and said he accepted the same role he held from last season from his new coach with open arms.

"At the end of the day, the coach chooses the roles and I am going to pitch whenever I'm told to pitch and try to help this team win baseball games.

Right-handed pitcher Conner Whittaker will also join Crowell in a similar role out of the bullpen.

"We'll have the ball in big situations at the end of the game or when the games are close," Crowell said. "Those big moments are going to be when we're pitching."

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Who will close out games?

In the ninth inning, if the Seminoles are leading by three runs or less and in a save situation, there won't be a designated "closer" for the team this weekend.

Jarrett said the team is still working through options, but anyone from Crowell or Whittaker to David Barrett, Brennen Oxford, Ben Barret or Doug Kirkland are options.

"We don't have a by-design closer," Jarrett said. "We have these guys who we feel are very capable in leverage situations. ...

"We are not setting someone aside, right now. I think with the pitch counts the way there are, you have to be cautious of that. Because above all else, you want to get to a game that is closeable or saveable late. Especially this time of year, I don't feel comfortable necessarily holding someone to get the last three outs of the game."

Florida State vs. James Madison

When: Friday, 5 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.

Where: Dick Howser Stadium

TV/Radio: ACC Network Extra/100.7 FM

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU baseball: Link Jarrett discusses opening weekend rotation