Powerhouse FSU, fresh off a dominant stretch, clashes with NC State's potent offense in a crucial ACC showdown. Home-run power meets pitching prowess.
The No. 11 Seminoles of Florida State (17-3, 3-0 ACC) are coming off a big week of baseball. They outscored Wake Forest and Bethune-Cookman by a combined 36-7, hitting 11 home runs over that four-game stretch, and pitched a no-hitter against Bethune-Cookman.
On Friday, FSU will host No. 10 NC State at Dick Howser Stadium in a huge ACC matchup. The Seminoles sit atop the conference standings after their sweep of the Demon Deacons last weekend. The Wolfpack is a game behind, with a record of 2-1 in the conference.
NC State
The Wolfpack are 17-4 on the season and are led at the plate by Rett Johnson. The left fielder is fourth in the ACC with a .441 batting average, with one home run and 16 RBI. He has only struck out five times so far this season.
Another leader for NC State is center-fielder Ty Head. He is a terror on the base path with 14 stolen bases. Also, Head has hit seven home runs and 23 RBI, and has a .261 batting average.
On the mound, NC State’s projected starter is Ryan Marohn. The sophomore lefty has struck out 26 batters in his 20.2 innings, and has walked only nine hitters.
Like FSU, the Wolfpack can score runs. They have seven run-rule victories this season, including a 14-2 win over UNC-Wilmington on Tuesday night.
The Wolfpack are coached by Elliott Avent, who has been in the dugout in Raleigh for 25 years. Avent has racked up 926 career victories at NC State (the school’s all-time winningest coach) and has had 120 of his players selected in the Major League Baseball draft since 2014.
Since 2003, the Wolfpack have averaged 38 wins per season and reached the NCAA baseball tournament in 10 of the last 11 years.
Florida State
Friday night’s projected starter, Wes Mendes, leads the ACC in wins with five, and in ERA with 0.63. Mendes has rung up 41 strikeouts on the season. The Seminoles team ERA is 3.47, with 222 strikeouts and 74 walks.
At the plate, the Seminoles are solid throughout the lineup. As a team, FSU is batting .300 and has hit 29 home runs.
First baseman Myles Bailey is fourth in the conference in home runs with nine round-trippers. The preseason All-American has a batting average of .344 and 25 RBI.
Freshman Kelvyn Paulino leads the Seminoles with a .415 BA, and Noah Sheffield, son of former MLB star Gary Sheffield, leads the team with seven doubles.
FSU coach Link Jarrett spoke about NC State and facing his son, who is a member of the Wolfpack staff, at his press conference on Friday.
Florida State is undefeated within the cozy confines of Dick Howser Stadium, a perfect 12-0.
If the Seminoles can keep up the dominating pitching performances and the home run barrage, then FSU will hang up victory number 13 at Mike Martin Field.
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