Florida State University Athletics
Saturday, March 28
Tallahassee, Fla.
2:00 PM
Florida State
21-5, 7-1
12
vs
11
Duke
17-12, 4-7
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Duke
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
4
0
11
16
3
Florida State
4
1
0
0
0
3
3
1
X
12
13
0
No. 10 Florida State Wins Series vs. Duke
3/28/2026 7:32:00 PM | Baseball
TALLAHASSEE – The No. 10 Florida State baseball team secured a third consecutive ACC series win with a 12-11 comeback win over Duke on Saturday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium.
The Seminoles (21-5, 7-1 ACC) have won all three series to begin their ACC slate, and all six weekend series to start the 2026 campaign. FSU has opened league play 7-2 or better in back-to-back years for the first time since a five-year run from 2012-16. The team's 7-1 start is its best since the 2016 season opened with an 8-1 record.
Florida State scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning and erased two deficits in the contests, as the Blue Devils (17-12, 4-7 ACC) led 1-0 in the first inning and 7-5 in the sixth.
The win came in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,700 as FSU improved to 86-30 all-time against Duke and 48-11 at home.
Senior third baseman Carter McCulley had a career-best three hits and sophomore catcher Hunter Carns had a hit with three RBI. Sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey was one of three more players with two hits and also one of three more with two RBI, as he hit his 13th home run of the season.
Junior right-hander Chris Knier improved to 2-0 on the season, while senior right-hander Gabe Nard got the final two outs to earn his first save at FSU. In 1.0 innings, Knier allowed two hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Nard struck out one and did not allow a baserunner in his 0.2 innings to close it out.
FSU's 12 runs came on 13 hits with no errors. Duke scored 11 runs on 16 hits with three errors. The Seminoles left 11 on base and the Blue Devils stranded seven.
Duke took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Florida State quickly responded with four in the bottom half to take a 4-1 lead. A bases-loaded RBI single by junior center fielder Brayden Dowd tied the game and a fielder's choice gave FSU the lead. Back-to-back run-scoring singles followed, by Carns and junior left fielder Chase Williams.
The Blue Devils tied the game 4-4 in the second with three runs on four hits, but the Seminoles again answered to regain a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the inning. Freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. delivered a one-out RBI single through the left side.
After a scoreless third inning for both teams, Duke regained a 6-5 lead in the fourth with a two-run home run.
Junior left-handed starter Trey Beard struck out two in a 1-2-3 fifth inning, which marked the end of his outing. He struck out five in 5.0 innings and allowed six runs on eight hits with one walk.
A run in the top of the sixth made it 7-5 on a two-out infield single before the Seminoles rallied in the bottom of the frame with three runs to take an 8-7 lead. Bailey's two-run home run with no outs to center got the scoring started, and Carns drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout.
Junior right-hander Brodie Purcell, who started the sixth on the mound, pitched a scoreless seventh with the one-run lead. Florida State then added three runs in the bottom of the seventh, all on bases-loaded walks, to extend the lead to 11-7. An intentional walk to Bailey is what loaded the bases, and Paulino Jr., Dowd and Carns earned the free passes.
Duke scored four runs on five hits in the eighth to tie the game at 11-11.
Once again, Florida State had an answer, as McCulley scored from third on a throwing error to give the Seminoles a 12-11 lead.
In the ninth, Nard got the final two outs to leave the tying run at third.
The series finale is on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for at Seminoles.com/Tickets or by calling the FSU ticket office at 850-644-1830. Admission for FSU students is free 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 (21-5, 7-1 ACC) have won all three series to begin their ACC slate, and all six weekend series to start the 2026 campaign. FSU has opened league play 7-2 or better in back-to-back years for the first time since a five-year run from 2012-16. The team's 7-1 start is its best since the 2016 season opened with an 8-1 record.
Florida State scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning and erased two deficits in the contests, as the Blue Devils (17-12, 4-7 ACC) led 1-0 in the first inning and 7-5 in the sixth.
The win came in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,700 as FSU improved to 86-30 all-time against Duke and 48-11 at home.
Senior third baseman Carter McCulley had a career-best three hits and sophomore catcher Hunter Carns had a hit with three RBI. Sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey was one of three more players with two hits and also one of three more with two RBI, as he hit his 13th home run of the season.
Junior right-hander Chris Knier improved to 2-0 on the season, while senior right-hander Gabe Nard got the final two outs to earn his first save at FSU. In 1.0 innings, Knier allowed two hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Nard struck out one and did not allow a baserunner in his 0.2 innings to close it out.
FSU's 12 runs came on 13 hits with no errors. Duke scored 11 runs on 16 hits with three errors. The Seminoles left 11 on base and the Blue Devils stranded seven.
Duke took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Florida State quickly responded with four in the bottom half to take a 4-1 lead. A bases-loaded RBI single by junior center fielder Brayden Dowd tied the game and a fielder's choice gave FSU the lead. Back-to-back run-scoring singles followed, by Carns and junior left fielder Chase Williams.
The Blue Devils tied the game 4-4 in the second with three runs on four hits, but the Seminoles again answered to regain a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the inning. Freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. delivered a one-out RBI single through the left side.
After a scoreless third inning for both teams, Duke regained a 6-5 lead in the fourth with a two-run home run.
Junior left-handed starter Trey Beard struck out two in a 1-2-3 fifth inning, which marked the end of his outing. He struck out five in 5.0 innings and allowed six runs on eight hits with one walk.
A run in the top of the sixth made it 7-5 on a two-out infield single before the Seminoles rallied in the bottom of the frame with three runs to take an 8-7 lead. Bailey's two-run home run with no outs to center got the scoring started, and Carns drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout.
Junior right-hander Brodie Purcell, who started the sixth on the mound, pitched a scoreless seventh with the one-run lead. Florida State then added three runs in the bottom of the seventh, all on bases-loaded walks, to extend the lead to 11-7. An intentional walk to Bailey is what loaded the bases, and Paulino Jr., Dowd and Carns earned the free passes.
Duke scored four runs on five hits in the eighth to tie the game at 11-11.
Once again, Florida State had an answer, as McCulley scored from third on a throwing error to give the Seminoles a 12-11 lead.
In the ninth, Nard got the final two outs to leave the tying run at third.
The series finale is on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for at Seminoles.com/Tickets or by calling the FSU ticket office at 850-644-1830. Admission for FSU students is free 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 (2-0)
L: Anderson, Caleb (1-1)
S: Nard, Gabe (1)
Batting:
2B: Albright, Tyler 1 ; Anderson, Collin 1 ; DiMartini, Michael 1 ; Smith, Kaden 1
HR: DiMartini, Michael 1
RBI: Albright, Tyler 1 ; Anderson, Collin 1 ; DiMartini, Michael 2 ; Hamilton, RJ 2 ; Perez, Brooks 2 ; Strand, Matthew 2
SH: Quagliano, Coltin 1
SF: Strand, Matthew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Albright, Tyler 1 ; Anderson, Collin 2 ; DiMartini, Michael 2 ; Hamilton, RJ 1 ; Lambdin, Jake 1 ; Perez, Brooks 1 ; Quagliano, Coltin 3
CS: Hamilton, RJ 1
Batting:
2B: McCulley, Carter 2
HR: Bailey, Myles 1
RBI: Williams, Chase 1 ; Dowd, Brayden 2 ; Paulino Jr., Kelvyn 2 ; Bailey, Myles 2 ; Carns, Hunter 3 ; Putnam, Eli 1
SH: Fisher, Cal 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Paulino Jr., Kelvyn 1 ; Stuetzer, John 3 ; Bailey, Myles 4 ; Putnam, Eli 1 ; McCulley, Carter 2
SB: Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Stuetzer, John 1 ; Bailey, Myles 1
HBP: Stuetzer, John 1
Game Leaders
3b/2b
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
rf/lf
AB
5
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
4
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
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