Seminoles blast Panthers with powerful hitting and stellar pitching, securing a crucial double-header sweep. Mendes delivers a gem in Game 1.
After Mother Nature washed out Friday's series opener, Florida State hosted Pitt in a double-header on Saturday. In Game 1, the Seminoles collected eight hits and their ace, Wes Mendes, pitched a rare gem to cruise past the Panthers 10-1 at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee.
Florida State (31-14, 13-9 ACC) earned a much-needed conference victory on the strength of left fielder John Stuetzer’s four RBI, courtesy of a double and a home run, and a complete game by Mendes. Stuetzer blasted his sixth home run of the season.
Mendes held Pitt (28-16, 10-12) to just one run, and became the first Florida State pitcher to earn a nine-inning complete-game victory since 2018. The left-hander struck out seven Pitt batters on 105 pitches. Mendes was in control of the strike zone as he gave up zero walks on the day. Coming into this weekend, Pitt led the ACC with 313 walks (fourth-best in the country).
Pitt's offense never came to life, a team that previously was leading the ACC in batting average at .321. Mendes kept Pitt, a team that has four wins over ranked teams, in check and the Panthers batted just .161 against him. The lone run for Pitt was a gift from Lorenzo Carrier, courtesy of his solo home run in the fourth inning. Pitt could not stop Florida State’s onslaught, as the Panthers committed three errors in the field.
Carns, Cmeyla Lead Nightcap
In Game 2, junior left-hander Trey Beard took the mound for the Seminoles and mowed down the Pitt lineup through the first two innings, ringing up five strikeouts. But Pitt made it a competitive game, courtesy of yet another home run from Carrier, this time a three-run shot in the third inning to cut the Seminoles lead to 5-4.
Designated hitter Hunter Carns and catcher Nathan Cmeyla both hit solo homers in the fifth to put the game out of reach for an 8-5 victory. The Seminoles beat up six of Pitt’s pitchers and collected 11 hits. Four Florida State batters produced multiple hits in the game, including Brody DeLamielleure (two hits), Carns added a double, Cmeyla (two hits, three RBI) and shortstop Gabe Fraser (three hits, two RBI).
Beard (5-1) pitched six innings and finished with eight strikeouts. Reliever John Abraham came on to finish the game and recorded five strikeouts to earn his sixth save of the season.
After outscoring the Panthers 18-6 and combining for 20 strikeouts, the Seminoles will look to keep the momentum going and to sweep Pitt on Sunday.
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, May 3
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Dick Howser Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
TV: ACC Network
Radio: 100.7 FM WFLA
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