Florida State University Athletics
No. 8 FSU Shuts Out Notre Dame in Seven Innings
4/17/2026 10:44:00 PM | Baseball
TALLAHASSEE – The No. 8 Florida State baseball team shut out Notre Dame 11-0 in seven innings on Friday night to begin a three-game weekend series at Dick Howser Stadium.
The Seminoles (26-11, 10-6 ACC) benefited from two three-run home runs in a seven-run sixth inning and another strong start from junior left-hander Wes Mendes. The Fighting Irish (17-16, 7-12 ACC) were held to just five hits in the series opener.
FSU took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and made it 4-0 in the fourth on a two-run error. Freshman right fielder John Stuetzer and redshirt senior first baseman Eli Putnam both homered in the sixth inning to secure the run-rule victory.
Meanwhile, Mendes pitched 6.0 shutout innings and struck out seven with two walks to improve to 7-2 in 2026. He allowed three hits and threw 102 pitches while matching his career-high win total. Junior righty Brodie Purcell pitched a scoreless seventh to preserve the seven-inning shutout.
Redshirt senior designated hitter Nathan Cmeyla had a game-high three hits and three RBI, both tying his season best. His two-RBI double in the first inning proved to be the only runs Florida State would need. Three more players joined Cmeyla with double-digit hits, while Putnam and Stuetzer had three RBI along with Cmeyla.
Putnam's home run was his sixth of the season and Stuetzer's his fifth on the year and third in the last week.
The Seminoles improve to 28-17 all-time against Notre Dame and 17-7 at home. FSU has won three in a row and six of the last seven, including four in a row in Tallahassee.
Florida State's 11 runs came on 13 hits with one error and seven runners left on. With its three hits, Notre Dame stranded eight and committed three errors. Two of FSU's runs were unearned.
After Mendes struck out the side in the top of the first inning, Cmeyla gave the Seminoles a 2-0 lead in the bottom half with a one-out double to left. It scored junior center fielder Brayden Dowd and sophomore catcher Hunter Carns, after Dowd led off the frame with a double.
A double play ended Mendes' second inning, and two singles in the third were the visitor's first hits of the game. However, a strikeout left both runners in scoring position to end the threat.
FSU doubled its advantage to 4-0 in the fourth. With two on and one out, a throwing error allowed Williams to reach on a sacrifice bunt attempt, and the runners on first and third both scored.
Two reached in the top of the fifth with one out, but a foul-out and a fielder's choice prevented Notre Dame from scoring. Mendes' final inning was capped with back-to-back strikeouts to conclude the sixth.
The Seminoles added seven runs in the sixth, all with two outs, to turn a 4-0 game into an 11-0 cushion. Cmeyla got the scoring started with a run-scoring single up the middle. Stuetzer followed with a 416-foot blast to center on the first pitch he saw to score Carns and Cmeyla. Two singles later, Putnam came to the plate and sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left for the second three-run home run of the inning.
Purcell relieved Mendes in the seventh. He allowed consecutive hits to lead off the inning but got a pop-up and two strikeouts to preserve the shutout and finish off the series-opening win.
The three-game series continues on Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m. ET. Sunday's finale is at 1 p.m. 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.
The weekend is part of Seminole Spring Weekend, presented by Whataburger, set for April 16-19 across FSU athletics events. Saturday will feature a rally towel giveaway thanks to Whataburger, while supplies last for early-arriving fans. Each regular-season Saturday home game is Military Saturday Presented by VyStar, with military recognitions and the playing of God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch. 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.
All three games will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra (Saturday | Sunday), 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 (Saturday | Sunday). 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 (26-11, 10-6 ACC) benefited from two three-run home runs in a seven-run sixth inning and another strong start from junior left-hander Wes Mendes. The Fighting Irish (17-16, 7-12 ACC) were held to just five hits in the series opener.
FSU took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and made it 4-0 in the fourth on a two-run error. Freshman right fielder John Stuetzer and redshirt senior first baseman Eli Putnam both homered in the sixth inning to secure the run-rule victory.
Meanwhile, Mendes pitched 6.0 shutout innings and struck out seven with two walks to improve to 7-2 in 2026. He allowed three hits and threw 102 pitches while matching his career-high win total. Junior righty Brodie Purcell pitched a scoreless seventh to preserve the seven-inning shutout.
Redshirt senior designated hitter Nathan Cmeyla had a game-high three hits and three RBI, both tying his season best. His two-RBI double in the first inning proved to be the only runs Florida State would need. Three more players joined Cmeyla with double-digit hits, while Putnam and Stuetzer had three RBI along with Cmeyla.
Putnam's home run was his sixth of the season and Stuetzer's his fifth on the year and third in the last week.
The Seminoles improve to 28-17 all-time against Notre Dame and 17-7 at home. FSU has won three in a row and six of the last seven, including four in a row in Tallahassee.
Florida State's 11 runs came on 13 hits with one error and seven runners left on. With its three hits, Notre Dame stranded eight and committed three errors. Two of FSU's runs were unearned.
After Mendes struck out the side in the top of the first inning, Cmeyla gave the Seminoles a 2-0 lead in the bottom half with a one-out double to left. It scored junior center fielder Brayden Dowd and sophomore catcher Hunter Carns, after Dowd led off the frame with a double.
A double play ended Mendes' second inning, and two singles in the third were the visitor's first hits of the game. However, a strikeout left both runners in scoring position to end the threat.
FSU doubled its advantage to 4-0 in the fourth. With two on and one out, a throwing error allowed Williams to reach on a sacrifice bunt attempt, and the runners on first and third both scored.
Two reached in the top of the fifth with one out, but a foul-out and a fielder's choice prevented Notre Dame from scoring. Mendes' final inning was capped with back-to-back strikeouts to conclude the sixth.
The Seminoles added seven runs in the sixth, all with two outs, to turn a 4-0 game into an 11-0 cushion. Cmeyla got the scoring started with a run-scoring single up the middle. Stuetzer followed with a 416-foot blast to center on the first pitch he saw to score Carns and Cmeyla. Two singles later, Putnam came to the plate and sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left for the second three-run home run of the inning.
Purcell relieved Mendes in the seventh. He allowed consecutive hits to lead off the inning but got a pop-up and two strikeouts to preserve the shutout and finish off the series-opening win.
The three-game series continues on Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m. ET. Sunday's finale is at 1 p.m. 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.
The weekend is part of Seminole Spring Weekend, presented by Whataburger, set for April 16-19 across FSU athletics events. Saturday will feature a rally towel giveaway thanks to Whataburger, while supplies last for early-arriving fans. Each regular-season Saturday home game is Military Saturday Presented by VyStar, with military recognitions and the playing of God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch. 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.
All three games will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra (Saturday | Sunday), 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 (Saturday | Sunday). 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: Mendes, Wes (7-2)
L: Hirsch, Xavier (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Logan, Brandon 1
Base Running:
SB: Berkland, Drew 1
HBP: Watters, Bino 1

Batting:
2B: Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Cmeyla, Nathan 1
HR: Stuetzer, John 1 ; Putnam, Eli 1
RBI: Cmeyla, Nathan 3 ; Stuetzer, John 3 ; Putnam, Eli 3
SH: Williams, Chase 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williams, Chase 1 ; Fisher, Cal 1 ; Dowd, Brayden 2 ; Cmeyla, Nathan 1 ; Stuetzer, John 1 ; Carns, Hunter 2 ; Putnam, Eli 1 ; McCulley, Carter 1 ; Fraser, Gabe 1
SB: Fraser, Gabe 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
FSU Baseball | RF John Stuetzer Postgame Press Conference (4/17/26 vs. Notre Dame)
Friday, April 17
FSU Baseball | HC Link Jarrett Postgame Press Conference (4/17/26 vs. Notre Dame)
Friday, April 17
FSU Baseball | HC Link Jarrett Press Conference (4/16/26)
Thursday, April 16
FSU Baseball | DH Hunter Carns Postgame Press Conference (4/14/26 vs. Stetson)
Wednesday, April 15








