Dominant pitching and a seven-run explosion ignite Florida State's decisive 11-0 victory, showcasing a complete performance versus ACC foe Notre Dame.
No. 8 Florida State delivered the kind of complete performance it had been searching for.
Behind a dominant start from Wes Mendes and a seven-run sixth inning, the Seminoles overwhelmed Notre Dame 11-0 in seven innings Friday night to open their Atlantic Coast Conference series.
Florida State (26-11, 10-6 ACC) collected 13 hits, struck out nine Fighting Irish batters and ended the game early via the run rule, an emphatic response after uneven performances in losses last week to Florida and Georgia Tech.
Mendes set the tone immediately, striking out the side in the first inning and rarely allowing Notre Dame to settle in. The left-hander improved to 7-2 after working efficiently through the Irish lineup, allowing three hits, no runs and two walks while striking out seven.
Reliever Brodie Purcell handled the final two innings, adding two strikeouts as Florida State completed the shutout.
Notre Dame (17-16, 7-12) managed five hits and never mounted a serious threat.
While the pitching staff controlled the game, Florida State’s offense provided more than enough support with one of its sharper nights in recent weeks. Eight Seminoles recorded at least one hit, and four finished with multiple-hit games.
Designated hitter Nathan Cmeyla paced the lineup, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Chase Williams finished 2-for-3, while Cal Fisher and Gabe Fraser each added two hits.
The decisive blow came in the sixth.
Already holding a comfortable lead, Florida State turned the inning into a rout by sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring seven runs. Freshman John Stuetzer highlighted the surge with a towering solo shot to deep center field, his fifth home run of the season. Later in the inning, Eli Putnam drove a three-run homer over the left-field wall, pushing the Seminoles into run-rule territory.
The outburst reflected the offensive pressure Florida State had been missing at times during recent losses, pairing consistent contact with timely extra-base hits. The Seminoles finished with four extra-base hits, including doubles from Cmeyla and Brayden Dowd.
Coach Link Jarrett said the ability to create separation changed the complexion of the game.
"When you get a chance to separate and open it up, Putnam, Stuetzer and Chase had some good at-bats," Jarrett said. "That’s the only way you’re going to score in bunches, and it changes the complexion of the bullpen and what you’re doing when you can separate and put the game away."
For a team looking to regain momentum in the middle of conference play, Friday offered a blueprint: quality starting pitching, clean relief work and an offense that capitalized when chances arrived.
Florida State will look to secure the series when the teams meet again Saturday.
How to Watch Game 2
Date: Saturday, April 18
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Dick Howser Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
Streaming: ACC Extra
Radio: 100.7 FM WFLA
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