Florida State's baseball team showcased their offensive prowess in a decisive victory over No. 10 NC State, pulling away with an 11-5 win. This sets up an exciting rubber match on Sunday at Dick Howser Stadium.
The Seminoles, ranked 11th, exploded in the sixth inning, scoring six runs. The highlight?
Brayden Dowd launching a grand slam-his fifth homer of the season-turning a tight contest into a commanding lead. This offensive surge pushed FSU ahead 9-4, effectively sealing the game.
FSU's lineup was relentless, with Kelvyn Paulino Jr. and John Stuetzer adding to the tally with a double and a single, respectively. Myles Bailey was instrumental early on, blasting a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the fifth.
He nearly completed a hat trick in the seventh, narrowly missing another homer that would have ended the game by run rule. Bailey's performance was stellar, going 3-for-4, and he's been on a tear with 12 homers this season.
Stuetzer also impressed, matching Bailey's 3-for-4 outing and scoring twice. The entire Seminoles lineup contributed, racking up 14 hits. They managed to tag NC State's starter, Jacob Dudan, for more earned runs in this game than he had allowed all season.
Despite the offensive fireworks, FSU's defense had its hiccups, committing three errors. Shortstop Cal Fisher had two, including a critical miscue with the bases loaded that allowed NC State to momentarily take the lead. Fisher, however, redeemed himself slightly by tying the game with an RBI groundout.
FSU's starter, Trey Beard, had a challenging outing, giving up six hits and four walks over 3 1/3 innings. Yet, he managed to limit the damage, with three of the four runs he allowed being unearned. NC State was persistent, stranding 11 runners through five innings.
Brodie Purcell provided stability from the bullpen, delivering four solid innings with five strikeouts, allowing just one run. The Seminoles' pitching staff, despite issuing six walks, struck out 12 and held NC State to a meager 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
This win not only demonstrated FSU's offensive depth but also highlighted areas for defensive improvement. As they head into Sunday's matchup, the Seminoles will look to tighten up their fielding while maintaining their explosive batting.