Florida State University Athletics
Tuesday, March 24
VyStar Ballpark | Jacksonville, Fla.
6:00 PM
Florida State
vs
Florida
No. 10 Florida State Travels to Jacksonville to Face UF
3/23/2026 12:34:00 PM | Baseball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 10 Florida State baseball team faces in-state rival Florida at VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville, Florida, on Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m. ET.
Limited tickets are available here for the contest held at the MiLB home of the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (formerly Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville).
The game will be streamed live on SECN+. Fans can listen to every game via the Seminole Sports Network on WFLA 100.7 FM. Each game in 2026 also is available around the world on the Seminoles Unconquered App and Seminoles.com. Live stats are at Florida.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 are available by following and connecting with the team on social media on Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
Starting pitchers for the matchup have not been determined for either team.
Tuesday's neutral-site game is the second of three matchups between the Seminoles and Gators in 2026. It's the last of three neutral-site games on Florida State's regular-season schedule.
FSU is 18-4 on the season, 5-1 in the ACC, 14-1 at home, 4-1 on the road, 1-2 at a neutral site and 5-3 against ranked opponents. The Seminoles are coming off a series win over No. 10 NC State at home last weekend, their second top-15 series win to begin the ACC season. Six of Florida State's last 12 games have been run-rule wins, including one in both of its first two conference series. Tuesday's contest at Jacksonville is part of a nine-game stretch of games held within the state of Florida and one of just two not played in Tallahassee.
As a team, Florida State is hitting .304 with 228 hits, 34 home runs, 52 doubles, three triples, 130 walks, 205 runs scored and 177 RBI. The pitching staff has a 3.53 ERA with 75 earned runs allowed on 139 hits with 250 strikeouts and 86 walks in 191.0 innings.
Freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. leads the team with a .404 batting average and sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey has 26 hits, 12 home runs, 31 RBI, 29 walks and 31 runs scored. Sophomore infielder/outfielder Noah Sheffield has seven doubles, while junior outfielder Chase Williams and freshman outfielder John Stuetzer both have six stolen bases in eight attempts. On the mound, junior lefty Wes Mendes is 5-1 with a 1.59 ERA, having struck out 46 and given up six earned runs on 19 hits in 34.0 innings. Junior right-hander John Abraham has made nine appearances, all but one out of the bullpen, and has 30 strikeouts and a 0.42 ERA in 21.2 innings.
NATIONALLY RANKED SEMINOLES
Florida State moved up one spot to No. 10 in D1Baseball Top-25. FSU is No. 8 in the Coaches Poll, No. 10 in Baseball America's rankings and by the Perfect Game and No. 11 according to The Athletic.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NC STATE
In the second-most-played rivalry in school history, Florida State is 135-130-1 all-time against Florida, including 72-43-1 at home, 51-70 on the road and 13-16 at a neutral site. UF hosted and won this year's first contest, 6-3 on March 24. FSU lost two-of-three last year after sweeping the three games in 2024. The series began with a single game in Gainesville in 1956 and has featured at least two games every year beginning in 1957 with the exception of a single game in the shortened 2020 campaign.
Two weeks ago, in a top-25 matchup on the road, Florida State saw its nine-game win streak snapped with a 6-3 loss at No. 23 Florida in Gainesville. FSU took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, but UF answered with five runs in the third. The Seminoles scored one in the fourth and the Gators added a run in the sixth. Junior shortstop Cal Fisher had a hit with two RBI and sophomore catcher Hunter Carns had two hits. On the mound, Abraham did not allow a hit in his 2.0 innings. Making his first start of the season, he struck out two and walked three. A recap, box score and postgame interview can be found here.
Last year in Jacksonville, a historic walk-off grand slam highlighted an 8-4 win on March 25, 2025 for then-No. 4 FSU. Alex Lodise was the ninth-inning hero and is believed to be the first player in college or professional baseball history to complete a cycle with a walk-off grand slam. FSU led 3-2 entering the ninth inning before the Gators scored two in the top of the inning to take a 4-3 lead. A recap and box score is available here.
SCOUTING THE GATORS
Florida is 19-6 on the season, including 16-3 at home and 3-3 on the road. UF is 3-3 in the SEC and began league play with two sweeps, getting swept at Alabama last weekend after a home sweep of South Carolina to open conference action. The Gators own an 8-0 midweek record after a 10-0 triumph over Stetson one week ago, on March 17. Florida will be playing its first neutral-site contest of the 2026 campaign.
UF is ranked No. 25 in this week's Coaches Poll.
LAST TIME OUT: SECOND CONSECUTIVE TOP-12 SERIES WIN
In a top-11 series at Dick Howser Stadium, then-No. 11 Florida State won the series against No. 10 NC State from March 20-22. It's FSU's second series win against a top-12 opponent to begin ACC play, with a run-rule victory in each of those series. 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.
FSU suffered a 6-4 loss in the opener on March 20, its first ACC loss of the season and first defeat in 13 games at home. Bailey hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning that gave the Seminoles a 4-2 lead. However, NC State, after leading 1-0 in the second and 2-1 in the fourth, rallied with three in the sixth to regain a 5-4 lead before adding an insurance run in the ninth. Bailey had a game-high three RBI and was one of four FSU players with a hit. Mendes suffered his first loss of the season to fall to 5-1.
Florida State evened the series with an 11-5 win on Saturday. The Seminoles hit three home runs, two from 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. FSU 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 had three hits with a game-high three RBI and three runs scored. Junior right-handed reliever Brodie Purcell pitched the final 4.0 innings and held NC State to one run on three hits. 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.
The Seminoles won the series against No. 10 NC State with a 15-5, seven-inning victory on Sunday afternoon. As Florida State scored runs in each of the first three innings, including five in the second, the Wolfpack 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 scored three in the seventh, but the Seminole pitching staff did not allow any more and closed out the 10-run victory. 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 day. Redshirt senior catcher Nathan Cmeyla had three hits, a season-best three RBI and two runs. 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.
A recap, box score and postgame interview is available here: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
UP NEXT: ANOTHER ACC WEEKEND AT HOWSER
Florida State returns home this weekend to host Duke from March 27-29 at Dick Howser Stadium. The series begins on Friday, March 27, at 6 p.m. ET, followed by a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday that will be broadcast live on ACC Network. Sunday's finale is at 1 p.m. Limited 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).
Limited tickets are available here for the contest held at the MiLB home of the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (formerly Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville).
The game will be streamed live on SECN+. Fans can listen to every game via the Seminole Sports Network on WFLA 100.7 FM. Each game in 2026 also is available around the world on the Seminoles Unconquered App and Seminoles.com. Live stats are at Florida.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 are available by following and connecting with the team on social media on Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
Starting pitchers for the matchup have not been determined for either team.
Tuesday's neutral-site game is the second of three matchups between the Seminoles and Gators in 2026. It's the last of three neutral-site games on Florida State's regular-season schedule.
FSU is 18-4 on the season, 5-1 in the ACC, 14-1 at home, 4-1 on the road, 1-2 at a neutral site and 5-3 against ranked opponents. The Seminoles are coming off a series win over No. 10 NC State at home last weekend, their second top-15 series win to begin the ACC season. Six of Florida State's last 12 games have been run-rule wins, including one in both of its first two conference series. Tuesday's contest at Jacksonville is part of a nine-game stretch of games held within the state of Florida and one of just two not played in Tallahassee.
As a team, Florida State is hitting .304 with 228 hits, 34 home runs, 52 doubles, three triples, 130 walks, 205 runs scored and 177 RBI. The pitching staff has a 3.53 ERA with 75 earned runs allowed on 139 hits with 250 strikeouts and 86 walks in 191.0 innings.
Freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. leads the team with a .404 batting average and sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey has 26 hits, 12 home runs, 31 RBI, 29 walks and 31 runs scored. Sophomore infielder/outfielder Noah Sheffield has seven doubles, while junior outfielder Chase Williams and freshman outfielder John Stuetzer both have six stolen bases in eight attempts. On the mound, junior lefty Wes Mendes is 5-1 with a 1.59 ERA, having struck out 46 and given up six earned runs on 19 hits in 34.0 innings. Junior right-hander John Abraham has made nine appearances, all but one out of the bullpen, and has 30 strikeouts and a 0.42 ERA in 21.2 innings.
NATIONALLY RANKED SEMINOLES
Florida State moved up one spot to No. 10 in D1Baseball Top-25. FSU is No. 8 in the Coaches Poll, No. 10 in Baseball America's rankings and by the Perfect Game and No. 11 according to The Athletic.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NC STATE
In the second-most-played rivalry in school history, Florida State is 135-130-1 all-time against Florida, including 72-43-1 at home, 51-70 on the road and 13-16 at a neutral site. UF hosted and won this year's first contest, 6-3 on March 24. FSU lost two-of-three last year after sweeping the three games in 2024. The series began with a single game in Gainesville in 1956 and has featured at least two games every year beginning in 1957 with the exception of a single game in the shortened 2020 campaign.
Two weeks ago, in a top-25 matchup on the road, Florida State saw its nine-game win streak snapped with a 6-3 loss at No. 23 Florida in Gainesville. FSU took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, but UF answered with five runs in the third. The Seminoles scored one in the fourth and the Gators added a run in the sixth. Junior shortstop Cal Fisher had a hit with two RBI and sophomore catcher Hunter Carns had two hits. On the mound, Abraham did not allow a hit in his 2.0 innings. Making his first start of the season, he struck out two and walked three. A recap, box score and postgame interview can be found here.
Last year in Jacksonville, a historic walk-off grand slam highlighted an 8-4 win on March 25, 2025 for then-No. 4 FSU. Alex Lodise was the ninth-inning hero and is believed to be the first player in college or professional baseball history to complete a cycle with a walk-off grand slam. FSU led 3-2 entering the ninth inning before the Gators scored two in the top of the inning to take a 4-3 lead. A recap and box score is available here.
SCOUTING THE GATORS
Florida is 19-6 on the season, including 16-3 at home and 3-3 on the road. UF is 3-3 in the SEC and began league play with two sweeps, getting swept at Alabama last weekend after a home sweep of South Carolina to open conference action. The Gators own an 8-0 midweek record after a 10-0 triumph over Stetson one week ago, on March 17. Florida will be playing its first neutral-site contest of the 2026 campaign.
UF is ranked No. 25 in this week's Coaches Poll.
LAST TIME OUT: SECOND CONSECUTIVE TOP-12 SERIES WIN
In a top-11 series at Dick Howser Stadium, then-No. 11 Florida State won the series against No. 10 NC State from March 20-22. It's FSU's second series win against a top-12 opponent to begin ACC play, with a run-rule victory in each of those series. 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.
FSU suffered a 6-4 loss in the opener on March 20, its first ACC loss of the season and first defeat in 13 games at home. Bailey hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning that gave the Seminoles a 4-2 lead. However, NC State, after leading 1-0 in the second and 2-1 in the fourth, rallied with three in the sixth to regain a 5-4 lead before adding an insurance run in the ninth. Bailey had a game-high three RBI and was one of four FSU players with a hit. Mendes suffered his first loss of the season to fall to 5-1.
Florida State evened the series with an 11-5 win on Saturday. The Seminoles hit three home runs, two from 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. FSU 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 had three hits with a game-high three RBI and three runs scored. Junior right-handed reliever Brodie Purcell pitched the final 4.0 innings and held NC State to one run on three hits. 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.
The Seminoles won the series against No. 10 NC State with a 15-5, seven-inning victory on Sunday afternoon. As Florida State scored runs in each of the first three innings, including five in the second, the Wolfpack 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 scored three in the seventh, but the Seminole pitching staff did not allow any more and closed out the 10-run victory. 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 day. Redshirt senior catcher Nathan Cmeyla had three hits, a season-best three RBI and two runs. 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.
A recap, box score and postgame interview is available here: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
UP NEXT: ANOTHER ACC WEEKEND AT HOWSER
Florida State returns home this weekend to host Duke from March 27-29 at Dick Howser Stadium. The series begins on Friday, March 27, at 6 p.m. ET, followed by a 2 p.m. contest on Saturday that will be broadcast live on ACC Network. Sunday's finale is at 1 p.m. Limited 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).
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/ 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