Florida State University Athletics
Tuesday, April 7
Tallahassee, Fla.
7:00 PM
Florida State
vs
Florida
No. 5 FSU Hosts UF Tuesday on ESPN2
4/6/2026 12:58:00 PM | Baseball
TALLAHASSEE – The No. 5 Florida State baseball team returns home for a nationally-televised matchup against in-state rival Florida on Tuesday, April 7. First pitch on ESPN2 is at 7 p.m. ET at Dick Howser Stadium.
Tickets are sold out, but fans can purchase tickets on SeatGeek. Tickets remain for FSU students, and admission 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.
For fans without a ticket, there will be a free watch party hosted in Howser Green, outside Howser on the first-base side. Open to the first 300 fans with no game ticket needed, concessions will be available for purchase.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2, with Karl Ravech and Chris Burke on the call. Fans can listen to every game in 2026 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 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 announced.
FSU is 24-7 on the season, 9-3 in the ACC, 16-2 at home, 7-2 on the road, 1-3 at a neutral site and 7-4 against ranked opponents. The Seminoles are coming off a series win at then-No. 10 Virginia to cap a 3-1 roadtrip. Florida State is off to its best ACC start since a 9-2 mark in 2016, while the 2015 campaign was the last time the team opened with four ACC series wins in a row, with a five-series streak. The 2016 season also started with five consecutive series wins, though the third and fourth weekends were shortened 1-0 sets due to weather. The Seminoles have won all four ACC series to begin the season, with three of them against top-12 opponents and two coming on the road, both against ranked foes.
As a team, Florida State is hitting .284 with 289 hits, 38 home runs, 65 doubles, five triples, 171 walks, 247 runs scored and 214 RBI. The pitching staff has a 3.90 ERA with 113 earned runs allowed on 206 hits with 339 strikeouts and 121 walks in 261.0 innings.
Sophomore catcher Hunter Carns is hitting .351, while freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. has 27 hits. Sophomore infielder/outfielder Noah Sheffield has nine doubles and 27 RBI and junior left fielder Chase Williams has nine stolen bases in 11 attempts. On the mound, junior lefty Wes Mendes is 6-2 with a 1.97 ERA, having struck out 65 and given up 10 earned runs on 30 hits in 45.2 innings. Junior right-hander John Abraham has made 12 appearances, all but one out of the bullpen, and has 43 strikeouts and a 0.61 ERA in 29.1 innings.
NATIONALLY RANKED SEMINOLES
Florida State moved up two spots to No. 5 in D1Baseball top-25. FSU also is No. 5 according to Baseball America and Perfect Game and No. 6 in The Athletic rankings and the Coaches Poll.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FLORIDA
In the second-most-played rivalry in school history, Florida State is 135-131-1 all-time against Florida, including 72-43-1 at home, 51-70 on the road and 13-17 at a neutral site. UF hosted and won this year's first contest, 6-3 on March 10, and the Gators won 5-0 in Jacksonville 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.
In a top-25 matchup on the road on March 10, 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 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.
Two weeks later on March 24, FSU fell to Florida 5-0 in Jacksonville, Florida, at the MiLB home of the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The Seminoles were shut out for the first time this season. Florida State had four hits with two errors and seven left on base while UF had five hits, one error and stranded 10. Junior left-handed starter Cooper Whited suffered his first loss of the year. He allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks in 3.2 innings. On a cool evening with consistent wind and light rain, Florida's first run came in the second. Four more came in the seventh to round out the game's scoring.
Recaps, box scores and postgame interviews from both games can be found here: Game 1 | Game 2
SCOUTING THE GATORS
Florida comes to Tallahassee with a 24-9 record overall, including 17-6 at home, 6-3 on the road and 1-0 at a neutral site. The Gators are 7-5 in the SEC, tied for fourth place, after a home series loss to Ole Miss from April 2-4. UF has lost three of its last four, including a 4-3 home midweek defeat to Jacksonville, after a four-game win streak that started with the neutral-site victory over FSU and ended with a sweep at No. 4 Arkansas from March 27-29.
In the national rankings, Florida is ranked No. 21 in this week's Baseball America and The Athletic Top-25, No. 22 in Perfect Game's rankings and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll.
LAST TIME OUT: TOP-10 ACC ROAD SERIES WIN
Then-No. 7 Florida State won its series at No. 10 Virginia from April 2-4, with 5-2 and 9-3 wins following a 4-3 loss in the opener. It's FSU''s first series win at a top-10 team since taking two-of-three at No. 6 Duke in 2024, though that also was the last time the team played at a top-10 squad. The Seminoles improved to 64-35 all-time against Virginia and 22-17 in Charlottesville.
The series began with a 4-3 loss on Thursday, April 2, the team's second road loss and first in the ACC in 2026. UVA benefited from a four-run fourth inning and withstood a three-run answer by FSU in the top of the fifth. Carns was one of four players with a hit, a two-run single in the fifth inning. Mendes suffered his second loss of the season and falls to 6-2. In 5.0 innings, he allowed four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Junior righty Chris Knier pitched the final 3.0 innings in relief of Mendes and did not allow a run on two hits.
A 5-2 win on April 3 evened the series. FSU took a 1-0 lead in the third inning and made it 3-0 in the fifth. UVA got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but Florida State quickly answered with two more in the top of the sixth on Carns' first home run of the season. Virginia scored one more in the sixth but could not get any closer. Junior left-handed starter Trey Beard and Abraham combined to hold the Cavaliers to two runs on seven hits with 13 strikeouts. In 5.0 innings, Beard earned the win to improve to 3-0. He struck out seven and allowed two runs on four hits with four walks. Abraham relieved Beard in the sixth and pitched the final 4.0 innings, a career best, to collect his team-leading fourth save of 2026. He did not allow a run on three hits with a season-high-tying six strikeouts and two walks. Carns had three hits with two RBI and two runs scored to lead an FSU offense that scored five runs on eight hits.
In Saturday's series-clinching win, the Seminoles scored their nine runs on 12 hits, both the most by either team in the three-game set. All but one starter had a hit and four players had multiple hits. Three drove in two runs. The win was fueled by a dominant start from junior right-hander Bryson Moore, who earned the win to improve to 5-1. In a career-best 7.0 innings, he did not allow a run on two hits with a career-high-tying seven strikeouts and one walk. Moore pitched into the seventh for the first time in his career and did not allow a run for the second time this season. His one walk ties a career low when pitching more than 3.0 innings. The middle of Moore's outing featured 13 in a row retired and the fourth inning where he struck out the side. Fisher became the second player to hit his first home run of the season in the series, with a two-run shot in the second inning to get the offense going. He had two hits, two RBI and three runs scored.
Recaps and box scores can be found here: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
UP NEXT: TOP-FIVE SERIES IN ATLANTA
Florida State returns to the road for a top-five, nationally-televised series at No. 3 Georgia Tech from April 9-11. Thursday and Friday's games will air on ACC Network. The series commences at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 9, followed by the second game on Friday at 8 p.m. Saturday's finale is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch in Atlanta.
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).
Tickets are sold out, but fans can purchase tickets on SeatGeek. Tickets remain for FSU students, and admission 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.
For fans without a ticket, there will be a free watch party hosted in Howser Green, outside Howser on the first-base side. Open to the first 300 fans with no game ticket needed, concessions will be available for purchase.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2, with Karl Ravech and Chris Burke on the call. Fans can listen to every game in 2026 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 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 announced.
FSU is 24-7 on the season, 9-3 in the ACC, 16-2 at home, 7-2 on the road, 1-3 at a neutral site and 7-4 against ranked opponents. The Seminoles are coming off a series win at then-No. 10 Virginia to cap a 3-1 roadtrip. Florida State is off to its best ACC start since a 9-2 mark in 2016, while the 2015 campaign was the last time the team opened with four ACC series wins in a row, with a five-series streak. The 2016 season also started with five consecutive series wins, though the third and fourth weekends were shortened 1-0 sets due to weather. The Seminoles have won all four ACC series to begin the season, with three of them against top-12 opponents and two coming on the road, both against ranked foes.
As a team, Florida State is hitting .284 with 289 hits, 38 home runs, 65 doubles, five triples, 171 walks, 247 runs scored and 214 RBI. The pitching staff has a 3.90 ERA with 113 earned runs allowed on 206 hits with 339 strikeouts and 121 walks in 261.0 innings.
Sophomore catcher Hunter Carns is hitting .351, while freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. has 27 hits. Sophomore infielder/outfielder Noah Sheffield has nine doubles and 27 RBI and junior left fielder Chase Williams has nine stolen bases in 11 attempts. On the mound, junior lefty Wes Mendes is 6-2 with a 1.97 ERA, having struck out 65 and given up 10 earned runs on 30 hits in 45.2 innings. Junior right-hander John Abraham has made 12 appearances, all but one out of the bullpen, and has 43 strikeouts and a 0.61 ERA in 29.1 innings.
NATIONALLY RANKED SEMINOLES
Florida State moved up two spots to No. 5 in D1Baseball top-25. FSU also is No. 5 according to Baseball America and Perfect Game and No. 6 in The Athletic rankings and the Coaches Poll.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FLORIDA
In the second-most-played rivalry in school history, Florida State is 135-131-1 all-time against Florida, including 72-43-1 at home, 51-70 on the road and 13-17 at a neutral site. UF hosted and won this year's first contest, 6-3 on March 10, and the Gators won 5-0 in Jacksonville 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.
In a top-25 matchup on the road on March 10, 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 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.
Two weeks later on March 24, FSU fell to Florida 5-0 in Jacksonville, Florida, at the MiLB home of the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The Seminoles were shut out for the first time this season. Florida State had four hits with two errors and seven left on base while UF had five hits, one error and stranded 10. Junior left-handed starter Cooper Whited suffered his first loss of the year. He allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks in 3.2 innings. On a cool evening with consistent wind and light rain, Florida's first run came in the second. Four more came in the seventh to round out the game's scoring.
Recaps, box scores and postgame interviews from both games can be found here: Game 1 | Game 2
SCOUTING THE GATORS
Florida comes to Tallahassee with a 24-9 record overall, including 17-6 at home, 6-3 on the road and 1-0 at a neutral site. The Gators are 7-5 in the SEC, tied for fourth place, after a home series loss to Ole Miss from April 2-4. UF has lost three of its last four, including a 4-3 home midweek defeat to Jacksonville, after a four-game win streak that started with the neutral-site victory over FSU and ended with a sweep at No. 4 Arkansas from March 27-29.
In the national rankings, Florida is ranked No. 21 in this week's Baseball America and The Athletic Top-25, No. 22 in Perfect Game's rankings and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll.
LAST TIME OUT: TOP-10 ACC ROAD SERIES WIN
Then-No. 7 Florida State won its series at No. 10 Virginia from April 2-4, with 5-2 and 9-3 wins following a 4-3 loss in the opener. It's FSU''s first series win at a top-10 team since taking two-of-three at No. 6 Duke in 2024, though that also was the last time the team played at a top-10 squad. The Seminoles improved to 64-35 all-time against Virginia and 22-17 in Charlottesville.
The series began with a 4-3 loss on Thursday, April 2, the team's second road loss and first in the ACC in 2026. UVA benefited from a four-run fourth inning and withstood a three-run answer by FSU in the top of the fifth. Carns was one of four players with a hit, a two-run single in the fifth inning. Mendes suffered his second loss of the season and falls to 6-2. In 5.0 innings, he allowed four runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Junior righty Chris Knier pitched the final 3.0 innings in relief of Mendes and did not allow a run on two hits.
A 5-2 win on April 3 evened the series. FSU took a 1-0 lead in the third inning and made it 3-0 in the fifth. UVA got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but Florida State quickly answered with two more in the top of the sixth on Carns' first home run of the season. Virginia scored one more in the sixth but could not get any closer. Junior left-handed starter Trey Beard and Abraham combined to hold the Cavaliers to two runs on seven hits with 13 strikeouts. In 5.0 innings, Beard earned the win to improve to 3-0. He struck out seven and allowed two runs on four hits with four walks. Abraham relieved Beard in the sixth and pitched the final 4.0 innings, a career best, to collect his team-leading fourth save of 2026. He did not allow a run on three hits with a season-high-tying six strikeouts and two walks. Carns had three hits with two RBI and two runs scored to lead an FSU offense that scored five runs on eight hits.
In Saturday's series-clinching win, the Seminoles scored their nine runs on 12 hits, both the most by either team in the three-game set. All but one starter had a hit and four players had multiple hits. Three drove in two runs. The win was fueled by a dominant start from junior right-hander Bryson Moore, who earned the win to improve to 5-1. In a career-best 7.0 innings, he did not allow a run on two hits with a career-high-tying seven strikeouts and one walk. Moore pitched into the seventh for the first time in his career and did not allow a run for the second time this season. His one walk ties a career low when pitching more than 3.0 innings. The middle of Moore's outing featured 13 in a row retired and the fourth inning where he struck out the side. Fisher became the second player to hit his first home run of the season in the series, with a two-run shot in the second inning to get the offense going. He had two hits, two RBI and three runs scored.
Recaps and box scores can be found here: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
UP NEXT: TOP-FIVE SERIES IN ATLANTA
Florida State returns to the road for a top-five, nationally-televised series at No. 3 Georgia Tech from April 9-11. Thursday and Friday's games will air on ACC Network. The series commences at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 9, followed by the second game on Friday at 8 p.m. Saturday's finale is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch in Atlanta.
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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