Florida State is one of the hottest teams in college baseball. They are coming out of a series where they secured back-to-back run-rule wins, while scoring 37 runs in their last three games.
The No. 16 Florida State (13-2) baseball team is on a nine-game win streak as the Noles swept Northern Kentucky over the weekend.
FSU scored 37 runs over a three-game stretch, with ttwo run-rule victories in which they ended the last two games of the series in seven innings.
The weekend series kicked off with the Garnet and Gold beating the Norse 7-3 on Friday. The win was highlighted by Wes Mendes (4-0) striking out 12 batters in his 5.1 innings.
Mendes gave up one earned run during his outing. Freshman Will Bavaro and sophomore right-fielder Noah Sheffield both hit home runs, with Sheffield's homer coming in the first inning. Bavaro hit his second home run in as many games.
The Noles poured it on in Game 2 on Saturday, routing Northern Kentucky 13-3.
FSU scored at least three runs in four of their seven innings. They were led by pitcher Trey Beard (1-0), who struck out seven batters in five innings. The 6-foot-2 junior gave up two hits.
FSU exploded with four home runs that helped secure the first of two run-rule victories. All-American first baseman Myles Bailey lit the home run fuse in the first inning. Bailey is currently one of the national leaders in home runs this year with six. (Last year, he was second in the ACC with 19.)
Josh Williams and Sam Bond also swatted homers for the Noles. Eli Putnam hit his third career grand slam, while Sheffield made history by being the first Seminoles player since 2018 to steal home, which he did in the second inning.
Florida State closed out the three-game series in more dramatic fashion on Sunday, beating the Norse 17-3. Bryson Moore (2-0) took home the win for FSU. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound righty pitched five innings, giving up four runs and three earned runs. He had a career-best seven strikeouts for the Seminoles.
The Noles had their second game in a row with at least four home runs. As a team FSU had seven players with at least two hits. Junior center fielder Brayden Dowd was the star at the plate with two home runs in the final game of this series. Slugger Myles Bailey also hit his sixth homer, and freshman outfielder John Stuetzer hit his first career home run. FSU was up 10-0 after the first inning.
Up next for Florida State is arch-rival No. 13 Florida. The Noles will travel to Gainesville for a March 10 game. This will be the first of three games that will be played throughout the season against the Gators.
ㅤ
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected.