Seminoles Get Past Coastal Carolina to Avoid Elimination

After waiting out a long weather delay on Saturday that resulted in postponement, the Florida State Seminoles and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers finally were able to restart their losers bracket game in the Tallahassee regional on Sunday in the top of the sixth with the Seminoles leading 2-1.

Florida State pitching, led by Wes Mendes, Brodie Purcell and Trey Beard, combined for 18 strikeouts. They stymied the Chanticleers at the plate by allowing just one run on three hits to earn a 2-1 victory and avoid elimination.

The Seminoles (39-18) await the loser of St. John’s vs. Northern Illinois on Sunday night, a game that was washed out yesterday before it could even start.

Beard came in for Purcell and was dominant. He allowed one hit and no runs, and struck out nine in relief, showing great command of his pitches and the strike zone.  Beard’s performance allows the Seminoles live to play another game. Purcell (4-2) was the winning pitcher. Beard recorded his first save of the season.   

Catcher Nathan Cmeyla put Florida State on the scoreboard with an RBI double in the fourth, and third baseman Cal Fisher provided the go-ahead run for the Seminoles with a home run in the bottom of the fifth, and that was the game-winner. Then Mother Nature decided she had seen enough baseball for the day. Fisher added a double after play was resumed.

Coastal Carolina (37-23) could not get anything going at the plate, going 3-for-27 (.111 average), and they were 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The Chanticleers exit the 2026 post-season early after a national runner-up season in 2025.

Florida State is looking to advance to the super regionals for the 20th time in school history, but they will have to win twice to do it, including a victory on Monday. If that happens, then Florida State will take on the winner of the Tuscaloosa regional.

Seminoles coach Link Jarrett spoke with the media about the weather delays and the impact on the players mentally and physically going forward as Florida State tries to extend their season,

“You better relax right now and when it's time to flip the switch and walk out on that field and play the game, you better execute pitches. You better control the game on the mound. You have to play smart, sound, fundamental defense. You have to less than two strike hit, we better two strike hit better. We need to run the bases with a little more feel.”

After using up their starting rotation in two games over three days, Florida State will rely on their bullpen to throw strikes and take control of the game from the mound.

The Seminoles left six base runners stranded and stole just one base against Coastal Carolina. With their backs against the wall and their season hanging in the balance, Florida State will have to be more aggressive to survive and advance.

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