Major League Baseball

Winston earns first save of season for FSU baseball

Published Feb. 16, 2014 10:39 a.m. ET

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Jameis Winston made a grand entrance in his first baseball game of 2014.

The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback entered Saturday's game against Niagara to the theme song from the 1990s show "Fresh Prince of Bel Air." And while it was just a mid-February game, Winston delivered in a tough situation.

Florida State led 3-1 in the top of the eighth inning, but Niagara was threatening with runners on first and second. Coach Mike Martin called on Winston, who got the next three hitters out. Winston worked a 1-2-3 ninth, ending the game with a strikeout.

Winston threw 20 pitches to six batters and earned his first save of the season as Florida State won 4-1.

"I just wanted to get out there and pitch," Winston told reporters after the game. "When they called down to the bullpen, I was ready. When you're a reliever you've got to have that mentality to be relentless and don't fear anything."

Martin joked afterwards that he wanted to see how Winston performed in a "game of that magnitude." Winston was pretty good under pressure on Jan. 6, marching Florida State down the field in the final minute and throwing a touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin with 13 seconds left as the Seminoles defeated Auburn 34-31 to win the national championship.

Winston will miss Sunday's game as he's back in football mode. He will be traveling to Fort Worth, Texas, and will receive the Davey O'Brien Award on Monday night.

While Winston will play baseball this spring, he will again juggle both sports. Florida State's spring football practice begins on March 19. Winston will participate in all football practices and play in baseball games when the schedule allows.