Florida State University Athletics
Saturday, March 21
Tallahassee, Fla.
2:00 PM
Florida State
18-4, 4-1
11
vs
5
NC State
18-5, 3-2
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
NC State
0
1
0
3
0
0
0
1
0
5
9
1
Florida State
2
1
0
1
1
6
0
0
X
11
14
4
Photo by: Florida State University Athletics
No. 11 Florida State Tops No. 10 NC State
3/21/2026 9:01:00 PM | Baseball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 11 Florida State baseball team evened the three-game series against No. 10 NC State with an 11-5 win on Saturday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium.
The Seminoles (18-4, 4-1 ACC) hit three home runs, two from sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey and a sixth-inning grand slam by junior center Brayden Dowd that turned a one-run lead into a five-run advantage. It was Bailey's fifth-inning homer that gave FSU the lead back for good over the Wolfpack (18-5, 3-2 ACC).
Florida State took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Bailey's first home run. NC State got one run back in the top of the second, only for the Seminoles to answer right back with a run in the bottom half. The Wolfpack scored three in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead, but again FSU responded with the tying run the next half inning. Bailey's second long ball made it 5-4 in the fifth before a six-run sixth that started with Dowd's grand slam pushed the lead to 11-4. One run in the eighth was all the visitors could get back.
Bailey hit his team-leading 11th and 12th home runs of the season in the win. The sophomore has homered in four consecutive games and in seven of the last nine. On Saturday, he had three hits with a game-high three RBI and three runs scored. Freshman right fielder John Stuetzer also had three hits and Dowd had four RBI.
Junior right-handed reliever Brodie Purcell pitched the final 4.0 innings and held NC State to one run on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks. He picked up his second save of the season after entering the game to start the sixth with a one-run lead. Junior righty Chris Knier earned the win, his first of the year. He did not allow a hit in 1.1 innings. Junior left-handed starter Trey Beard allowed four runs, one earned, on six hits with seven strikeouts and four walks in 3.2 innings.
FSU's 11 runs came on 14 hits and NC State's five runs were on nine hits. Florida State had four errors and left nine on, while the Wolfpack had one error and stranded 13.
The Seminoles and Wolfpack will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at Seminoles.com/Tickets, and admission is free for all FSU students with their FSUID.
Bailey's first home run got the scoring going, with a first-pitch two-run shot to right field with one out in the first inning.
After NC State left a runner on third in the first, a two-out RBI single scored one in the second to make it 2-1. A strikeout ended the inning and limited the damage.
Florida State quickly answered, as junior left fielder Chase Williams doubled in Stuetzer to push the lead back to two, at 3-1.
Two more Wolfpack were stranded in the third before the visitors took a 4-3 lead in the fourth. A fielding error scored the first run, followed by a two-run single.
Again, the Seminoles responded in the bottom of the inning, as a groundout by junior shortstop Cal Fisher tied the game at 4-4.
Knier got a flyout and popup to leave two on in the fifth, and Bailey's second home run of the day in the bottom half put FSU back on top, 5-4. Bailey's blast to right came with one out.
The sixth was Florida State's big inning, as the Seminoles batted around and scored six runs on six hits. A leadoff single by Williams, a walk and a Fisher single loaded the bases for Dowd, who hit his first grand slam of his FSU career and the team's third in 2026.
Freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. then doubled home Bailey, and with two outs, Stuetzer singled in Paulino from second. That gave Florida State a seven-run lead, 11-4.
Purcell retired the order in the seventh after facing the minimum in the sixth. A solo homer in the eighth got the Wolfpack a run closer, at 11-5, but Purcell limited the damage. In the ninth, a one-out single preceded a fielder's choice and a game-ending groundout.
The series finale is on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Tickets are available at Seminoles.com/Tickets or by calling the FSU ticket office at 850-644-1830. Admission is free for all FSU students with their FSUID, with the student entrance at the right field gate at Haggard Plaza. All gates at Dick Howser Stadium will open 60 minutes prior to first pitch for every game in 2026. Every Sunday regular-season home game is Sunday Funday, where Kids Club members and youth wearing their little league jerseys will be admitted free, and kids 12 and under will be allowed to run the bases postgame.
The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, accessible through your television provider or a subscription to ESPN+. Fans can listen to every game via the Seminole Sports Network on WFLA 100.7 FM. Each game also is available around the world on the Seminoles Unconquered App and Seminoles.com. Live stats are at FSU.Statbroadcast.com. Direct links to watch, listen and follow along can be found on the schedule page at Seminoles.com/Baseball. News, notes and behind-the-scenes updates all weekend 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).
The Seminoles (18-4, 4-1 ACC) hit three home runs, two from sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey and a sixth-inning grand slam by junior center Brayden Dowd that turned a one-run lead into a five-run advantage. It was Bailey's fifth-inning homer that gave FSU the lead back for good over the Wolfpack (18-5, 3-2 ACC).
Florida State took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Bailey's first home run. NC State got one run back in the top of the second, only for the Seminoles to answer right back with a run in the bottom half. The Wolfpack scored three in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead, but again FSU responded with the tying run the next half inning. Bailey's second long ball made it 5-4 in the fifth before a six-run sixth that started with Dowd's grand slam pushed the lead to 11-4. One run in the eighth was all the visitors could get back.
Bailey hit his team-leading 11th and 12th home runs of the season in the win. The sophomore has homered in four consecutive games and in seven of the last nine. On Saturday, he had three hits with a game-high three RBI and three runs scored. Freshman right fielder John Stuetzer also had three hits and Dowd had four RBI.
Junior right-handed reliever Brodie Purcell pitched the final 4.0 innings and held NC State to one run on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks. He picked up his second save of the season after entering the game to start the sixth with a one-run lead. Junior righty Chris Knier earned the win, his first of the year. He did not allow a hit in 1.1 innings. Junior left-handed starter Trey Beard allowed four runs, one earned, on six hits with seven strikeouts and four walks in 3.2 innings.
FSU's 11 runs came on 14 hits and NC State's five runs were on nine hits. Florida State had four errors and left nine on, while the Wolfpack had one error and stranded 13.
The Seminoles and Wolfpack will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at Seminoles.com/Tickets, and admission is free for all FSU students with their FSUID.
Bailey's first home run got the scoring going, with a first-pitch two-run shot to right field with one out in the first inning.
After NC State left a runner on third in the first, a two-out RBI single scored one in the second to make it 2-1. A strikeout ended the inning and limited the damage.
Florida State quickly answered, as junior left fielder Chase Williams doubled in Stuetzer to push the lead back to two, at 3-1.
Two more Wolfpack were stranded in the third before the visitors took a 4-3 lead in the fourth. A fielding error scored the first run, followed by a two-run single.
Again, the Seminoles responded in the bottom of the inning, as a groundout by junior shortstop Cal Fisher tied the game at 4-4.
Knier got a flyout and popup to leave two on in the fifth, and Bailey's second home run of the day in the bottom half put FSU back on top, 5-4. Bailey's blast to right came with one out.
The sixth was Florida State's big inning, as the Seminoles batted around and scored six runs on six hits. A leadoff single by Williams, a walk and a Fisher single loaded the bases for Dowd, who hit his first grand slam of his FSU career and the team's third in 2026.
Freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. then doubled home Bailey, and with two outs, Stuetzer singled in Paulino from second. That gave Florida State a seven-run lead, 11-4.
Purcell retired the order in the seventh after facing the minimum in the sixth. A solo homer in the eighth got the Wolfpack a run closer, at 11-5, but Purcell limited the damage. In the ninth, a one-out single preceded a fielder's choice and a game-ending groundout.
The series finale is on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Tickets are available at Seminoles.com/Tickets or by calling the FSU ticket office at 850-644-1830. Admission is free for all FSU students with their FSUID, with the student entrance at the right field gate at Haggard Plaza. All gates at Dick Howser Stadium will open 60 minutes prior to first pitch for every game in 2026. Every Sunday regular-season home game is Sunday Funday, where Kids Club members and youth wearing their little league jerseys will be admitted free, and kids 12 and under will be allowed to run the bases postgame.
The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, accessible through your television provider or a subscription to ESPN+. Fans can listen to every game via the Seminole Sports Network on WFLA 100.7 FM. Each game also is available around the world on the Seminoles Unconquered App and Seminoles.com. Live stats are at FSU.Statbroadcast.com. Direct links to watch, listen and follow along can be found on the schedule page at Seminoles.com/Baseball. News, notes and behind-the-scenes updates all weekend 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: Knier, Chris (1-0)
L: Dudan, Jacob (4-1)
S: Purcell, Brodie (2)
Batting:
HR: Head, Ty 1
RBI: Nixon, Luke 2 ; Head, Ty 1 ; Johnson, Rett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nixon, Luke 1 ; McHugh, Chris 1 ; Head, Ty 2 ; Johnson, Rett 1
SB: Johnson, Rett 1
HBP: Ryan, Mikey 1
Batting:
2B: Williams, Chase 1 ; Paulino Jr., Kelvyn 1 ; Stuetzer, John 1 ; Bailey, Myles 1
HR: Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Bailey, Myles 2
RBI: Williams, Chase 1 ; Fisher, Cal 1 ; Dowd, Brayden 4 ; Paulino Jr., Kelvyn 1 ; Stuetzer, John 1 ; Bailey, Myles 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Bavaro, Will 1 ; Williams, Chase 1 ; Fisher, Cal 1 ; Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Paulino Jr., Kelvyn 1 ; Stuetzer, John 2 ; Bailey, Myles 3 ; Putnam, Eli 1
SB: Williams, Chase 1 ; Stuetzer, John 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF
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