Florida State University Athletics

Volini Leads No. 9 FSU Past No. 25 VT in Opener
4/12/2025 4:53:00 PM | Baseball
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Another seven strong innings on the mound for redshirt junior left-hander Joey Volini led the No. 9 Florida State baseball team to a 3-1 victory at No. 25 Virginia Tech in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday in Blacksburg, Virginia.
On a chilly early afternoon, Volini allowed one run on two hits in 7.0 innings as FSU opened its first three-game series against a top-25 opponent this season.
The Seminoles (26-7, 9-4 ACC) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, but the Hokies (23-11, 9-7 ACC) answered quickly with one in the bottom half to tie it. However, Florida State responded right back with two more in the fifth to retake a lead it would not relinquish.
Volini improved to 8-1 on the season in nine starts. He threw a career-high 105 pitches, the second time he has thrown more than 90, and pitched seven innings for the third time in the last four games and the fifth time in 2025. Volini retired the side in order four times and was aided by double plays in two of the three innings where a runner reached.
Redshirt senior righty Joe Charles picked up the save, his first in 2025 and the third of his career. He threw the final 2.0 innings and allowed two hits with two strikeouts and no runs.
Offensively, junior shortstop Alex Lodise was one of three Seminoles with two hits and he had one RBI. Junior center fielder Max Williams notched a pair of hits with two runs scored.
FSU scored its three runs on eight hits and held VT to one run on four hits. Neither team committed an error.
Florida State had two reach in the first, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.
Volini then retired the side in the bottom of the first before two nice defensive plays helped him escape a two-on, no-out jam in the second. Sophomore left fielder Chase Williams doubled up the runner at second on a fly ball for the first two outs before junior right fielder Gage Harrelson made a nice catch to end the frame. Volini threw a 1-2-3 third inning.
The Seminoles got on the board in the fourth with two outs, as redshirt senior catcher Nathan Cmeyla was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Max Williams. The Hokies tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning, as a fielder's choice scored a run after a single for VT's first hit of the game.
FSU answered right back with two runs in the top of the fifth to regain a 3-1 lead. Harrelson led off the inning with a double and scored on an RBI single through the left side by Lodise. With runners on second and third, a wild pitch brought home Max Williams.
Volini followed it up with a nine-pitch bottom half. Two reached in the sixth, including on just the Hokies' second hit of the day, but a strikeout ended the frame and left two on. In his final inning, the seventh, Volini turned in his fourth perfect inning of the game.
Charles pitched a scoreless eighth inning, with a double play groundout to end it. He finished it off in the ninth with a flyout and foul-out to leave the tying run on first base.
The series continues with game two of today's doubleheader, which begins at 3:50 p.m. ET. Sunday's series finale at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is at 12 p.m.
Every game can be heard live on the Seminole Sports Network on WFLA 100.7 FM and around the world on the FSU Gameday App and Seminoles.com. Live stats are available at FSU.Statbroadcast.com. Sunday's game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, accessible through your television provider or a subscription to ESPN+. Direct links to follow along all weekend long can be found on the schedule page at Seminoles.com/Baseball. News, notes and behind-the-scenes updates also are available by following and connecting with the team on social media on Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
On a chilly early afternoon, Volini allowed one run on two hits in 7.0 innings as FSU opened its first three-game series against a top-25 opponent this season.
The Seminoles (26-7, 9-4 ACC) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, but the Hokies (23-11, 9-7 ACC) answered quickly with one in the bottom half to tie it. However, Florida State responded right back with two more in the fifth to retake a lead it would not relinquish.
Volini improved to 8-1 on the season in nine starts. He threw a career-high 105 pitches, the second time he has thrown more than 90, and pitched seven innings for the third time in the last four games and the fifth time in 2025. Volini retired the side in order four times and was aided by double plays in two of the three innings where a runner reached.
Redshirt senior righty Joe Charles picked up the save, his first in 2025 and the third of his career. He threw the final 2.0 innings and allowed two hits with two strikeouts and no runs.
Offensively, junior shortstop Alex Lodise was one of three Seminoles with two hits and he had one RBI. Junior center fielder Max Williams notched a pair of hits with two runs scored.
FSU scored its three runs on eight hits and held VT to one run on four hits. Neither team committed an error.
Florida State had two reach in the first, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.
Volini then retired the side in the bottom of the first before two nice defensive plays helped him escape a two-on, no-out jam in the second. Sophomore left fielder Chase Williams doubled up the runner at second on a fly ball for the first two outs before junior right fielder Gage Harrelson made a nice catch to end the frame. Volini threw a 1-2-3 third inning.
The Seminoles got on the board in the fourth with two outs, as redshirt senior catcher Nathan Cmeyla was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Max Williams. The Hokies tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning, as a fielder's choice scored a run after a single for VT's first hit of the game.
FSU answered right back with two runs in the top of the fifth to regain a 3-1 lead. Harrelson led off the inning with a double and scored on an RBI single through the left side by Lodise. With runners on second and third, a wild pitch brought home Max Williams.
Volini followed it up with a nine-pitch bottom half. Two reached in the sixth, including on just the Hokies' second hit of the day, but a strikeout ended the frame and left two on. In his final inning, the seventh, Volini turned in his fourth perfect inning of the game.
Charles pitched a scoreless eighth inning, with a double play groundout to end it. He finished it off in the ninth with a flyout and foul-out to leave the tying run on first base.
The series continues with game two of today's doubleheader, which begins at 3:50 p.m. ET. Sunday's series finale at English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is at 12 p.m.
Every game can be heard live on the Seminole Sports Network on WFLA 100.7 FM and around the world on the FSU Gameday App and Seminoles.com. Live stats are available at FSU.Statbroadcast.com. Sunday's game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, accessible through your television provider or a subscription to ESPN+. Direct links to follow along all weekend long can be found on the schedule page at Seminoles.com/Baseball. News, notes and behind-the-scenes updates also are available by following and connecting with the team on social media on Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Volini, Joey (8-1)
L: Brett Renfrow (3-3)
S: Charles, Joe (1)

Batting:
2B: Harrelson, Gage 1 ; Williams, Max 1 ; Bailey, Myles 1
RBI: Lodise, Alex 1 ; Cmeyla, Nathan 1
SH: Faurot, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harrelson, Gage 1 ; Williams, Max 2
SB: Williams, Chase 1
HBP: Bailey, Myles 1 ; Cmeyla, Nathan 1

Batting:
RBI: Henry Cooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sam Tackett 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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