Florida State University Athletics
Sunday, March 22
Tallahassee, Fla.
1:00 PM
Florida State
19-4, 5-1
15
vs
5
NC State
18-6, 3-3
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
NC State
0
0
0
0
2
0
3
5
9
2
Florida State
2
5
1
0
3
4
X
15
14
0
Run-Rule Win Secures Series vs. No. 10 NC State
3/22/2026 7:21:00 PM | Baseball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 11 Florida State baseball team won the series against No. 10 NC State with a 15-5, seven-inning victory on Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium.
The Seminoles (19-4, 5-1 ACC) secured their second series win to begin ACC play, both against opponents ranked in the top-12 nationally. Six of FSU's last 12 games have been run-rule wins, including one in both of its first two conference series.
As Florida State scored runs in each of the first three innings, including five in the second, the Wolfpack (18-6, 3-3 ACC) trailed 8-0 before they scored two in the fifth. FSU answered right back with three in the bottom half, and the hometown team plated four more in the sixth to extend the lead to 15-2. NC State plated three in the seventh, but the Seminole pitching staff did not allow any more and closed out the 10-run victory.
The series win is Florida State's first over NC State since 2022, as the Seminoles improve to 79-41 all-time against the Wolfpack.
Freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. hit his first career home run to spark the five-run second inning as part of a two-hit, career-high four-RBI and two-run day. Redshirt senior catcher Nathan Cmeyla had three hits, a season-best three RBI and two runs while freshman right fielder John Stuetzer also had a game-high-tying three hits with two RBI. Sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey had a four-game home run streak snapped, as he was walked intentionally three times and hit by a pitch once, but all four times he was put on he scored, a new career best.
Junior right-handed starter Bryson Moore earned the win to improve to 4-0 on the campaign. In 5.0 innings, he held NC State to two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
The Seminoles' 15 runs came on 14 hits with nine runners left on and no errors. The Wolfpack's five runs were on nine hits with two errors and eight stranded.
Florida State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. With the bases loaded and one out, redshirt senior second baseman Eli Putnam scored the first run on a sac fly. Stuetzer then delivered an RBI single up the middle.
A groundout ended the top of the second and left two on as NC State attempted to answer.
FSU added five in the bottom half to extend the lead to 7-0, beginning with Paulino Jr.'s first career home run. The three-run blast to center came after back-to-back one-out singles. With two outs, Putnam tripled home Bailey, who was hit by a pitch, and Stuetzer drove home Putnam.
A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch made it 8-0 in the third.
The Wolfpack scored two in the fifth on a two-out, two-run double down the right-field line. That made it 8-2, but the Seminoles quickly responded with three of their own in the bottom of the frame, also all with two outs to stretch the advantage to 11-2. A leadoff hit batter and a two-out intentional walk put two on for Cmeyla, who doubled down the left-field line for the first run. The next two runs were unearned, on a passed ball and an error.
Senior right-hander Gabe Nard relieved Moore with two on and no outs in the sixth and got out of the jam, with a groundout to end the inning.
Florida State then extended its lead to 15-2 in the bottom of the sixth. All four runs came with two outs. A bases-loaded balk scored the first run to set up a two-RBI, bases-loaded double by Cmeyla. Putnam capped the scoring with a single to score Cmeyla.
In the seventh, NC State scored three, but could not get any closer to extend the game. All three runs came with no outs, but redshirt junior lefty Kevin Mebil came in and got a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a double-play groundout with the bases loaded to end the game for a 15-5 final in seven.
Florida State and in-state rival Florida meet for the second of three times in 2026 on Tuesday, March 24, in Jacksonville. First pitch is at 6 p.m. ET at VyStar Ballpark. The Seminoles are then back home next weekend to host Duke from March 27-29, and tickets are available at Seminoles.com/Tickets.
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 (19-4, 5-1 ACC) secured their second series win to begin ACC play, both against opponents ranked in the top-12 nationally. Six of FSU's last 12 games have been run-rule wins, including one in both of its first two conference series.
As Florida State scored runs in each of the first three innings, including five in the second, the Wolfpack (18-6, 3-3 ACC) trailed 8-0 before they scored two in the fifth. FSU answered right back with three in the bottom half, and the hometown team plated four more in the sixth to extend the lead to 15-2. NC State plated three in the seventh, but the Seminole pitching staff did not allow any more and closed out the 10-run victory.
The series win is Florida State's first over NC State since 2022, as the Seminoles improve to 79-41 all-time against the Wolfpack.
Freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. hit his first career home run to spark the five-run second inning as part of a two-hit, career-high four-RBI and two-run day. Redshirt senior catcher Nathan Cmeyla had three hits, a season-best three RBI and two runs while freshman right fielder John Stuetzer also had a game-high-tying three hits with two RBI. Sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey had a four-game home run streak snapped, as he was walked intentionally three times and hit by a pitch once, but all four times he was put on he scored, a new career best.
Junior right-handed starter Bryson Moore earned the win to improve to 4-0 on the campaign. In 5.0 innings, he held NC State to two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
The Seminoles' 15 runs came on 14 hits with nine runners left on and no errors. The Wolfpack's five runs were on nine hits with two errors and eight stranded.
Florida State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. With the bases loaded and one out, redshirt senior second baseman Eli Putnam scored the first run on a sac fly. Stuetzer then delivered an RBI single up the middle.
A groundout ended the top of the second and left two on as NC State attempted to answer.
FSU added five in the bottom half to extend the lead to 7-0, beginning with Paulino Jr.'s first career home run. The three-run blast to center came after back-to-back one-out singles. With two outs, Putnam tripled home Bailey, who was hit by a pitch, and Stuetzer drove home Putnam.
A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch made it 8-0 in the third.
The Wolfpack scored two in the fifth on a two-out, two-run double down the right-field line. That made it 8-2, but the Seminoles quickly responded with three of their own in the bottom of the frame, also all with two outs to stretch the advantage to 11-2. A leadoff hit batter and a two-out intentional walk put two on for Cmeyla, who doubled down the left-field line for the first run. The next two runs were unearned, on a passed ball and an error.
Senior right-hander Gabe Nard relieved Moore with two on and no outs in the sixth and got out of the jam, with a groundout to end the inning.
Florida State then extended its lead to 15-2 in the bottom of the sixth. All four runs came with two outs. A bases-loaded balk scored the first run to set up a two-RBI, bases-loaded double by Cmeyla. Putnam capped the scoring with a single to score Cmeyla.
In the seventh, NC State scored three, but could not get any closer to extend the game. All three runs came with no outs, but redshirt junior lefty Kevin Mebil came in and got a run-scoring sacrifice fly and a double-play groundout with the bases loaded to end the game for a 15-5 final in seven.
Florida State and in-state rival Florida meet for the second of three times in 2026 on Tuesday, March 24, in Jacksonville. First pitch is at 6 p.m. ET at VyStar Ballpark. The Seminoles are then back home next weekend to host Duke from March 27-29, and tickets are available at Seminoles.com/Tickets.
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: Moore, Bryson (4-0)
L: Andrews, Heath (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Nixon, Luke 1 ; Ryan, Mikey 1
RBI: Nixon, Luke 2 ; McHugh, Chris 2 ; Bargo, Dalton 1
SF: Bargo, Dalton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nixon, Luke 1 ; Lanphere, Drew 1 ; Johnson, Rett 1 ; Ryan, Mikey 1 ; Wiggins, Andrew 1
HBP: Johnson, Rett 1
Batting:
2B: Paulino Jr., Kelvyn 1 ; Cmeyla, Nathan 2 ; Stuetzer, John 1
3B: Putnam, Eli 1
HR: Paulino Jr., Kelvyn 1
RBI: Paulino Jr., Kelvyn 4 ; Cmeyla, Nathan 3 ; Stuetzer, John 2 ; Putnam, Eli 3
SH: Williams, Chase 1
SF: Putnam, Eli 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bavaro, Will 2 ; Fisher, Cal 2 ; Dowd, Brayden 2 ; Paulino Jr., Kelvyn 2 ; Cmeyla, Nathan 2 ; Bailey, Myles 4 ; Putnam, Eli 1
CS: Stuetzer, John 1
HBP: Fisher, Cal 1 ; Paulino Jr., Kelvyn 1 ; Bailey, Myles 1
PO: Stuetzer, John 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
1B
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballFSU Baseball | DH Kelvyn Paulino Jr. Postgame Press Conference (3/22/26 vs. NC State)
Sunday, March 22
FSU Baseball | C Nathan Cmeyla Postgame Press Conference (3/22/26 vs. NC State)
Sunday, March 22
FSU Baseball | HC Link Jarrett Postgame Press Conference (3/22/26 vs. NC State)
Sunday, March 22
FSU Baseball | CF Brayden Dowd Postgame Press Conference (3/21/26 vs. NC State)
Sunday, March 22