Who’s the Pack playing?
Opponent: Florida State
Mascot: T-Pain | School Location: Creed, FL | Conference: ACC
2026 Record: 17-3 (3-0, 1st) | 2026 RPI Rank: 3
2025 Record: 42-16 (17-10, 2nd) | 2025 RPI Rank: 11
2024 Record: 49-17 (17-12, 3rd Atlantic) | 2024 RPI Rank: 5
When? Where? How do I watch?
Location: Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium (Tallahassee, FL)
Game Time(s): Fri, Mar 20 @ 6:00pm | Sat, Mar 21 @ 2:00pm | Sun, Mar 22 @ 1:00pm
TV: Friday (ACCNX) | Saturday (ACCNX) | Sunday (ACCNX)
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (Friday | Saturday | Sunday)
Tell me about this team
Just
a few weeks ago after the calendar had flipped into March, there were questions about this FSU lineup. The Seminoles had just swept The Citadel, but mustered only 10 total runs across the three games, and this was after FSU tallied just 12 total runs the weekend prior at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series.
Fast-forward two weekends and that question doesn’t exist anymore. After squeaking out a 7-6 win over Jacksonville in their first game after the series finale with The Citadel, the Noles battered Mercer for 22 runs in a midweek game, scored 37 in a sweep of Northern Kentucky, put up 24 on Wake Forest in another sweep last weekend, and just this Tuesday pounded Bethune-Cookman for 12 more. The only blemish in this run is a 6-3 loss at RPI #9 Florida two Tuesdays ago.
This team can hit (collective: .300/.421/.506, 43 2B, 29 HR, 13.9 BB%, 21.8 K%, 21-27 SB). The question has been answered.
Oh, and their pitching is every bit the equal of NC State’s, featuring a pair of lefty junior arms that are Top 50 college prospects in this year’s draft and another junior who may well work his way up to that level by the time the draft rolls around. The bullpen is as good as it’s been under Link Jarrett, with high-leverage arms capable of spot duty or multi-inning outings. It’s a tough group with a collective 3.52 ERA, 10.6 BB%, and 31.9 K%. That walk rate is about the only thing you could point to as an area of potential attack, but even that is mostly thanks to a couple depth arms that have struggled in their opportunties.
The ACC schedule for Florida State is no joke and they will be tested – in addition to their ACC opener at #24 Wake Forest, they play #10 NC State, Duke, #9 Virginia, and #3 Georgia Tech in their next four series. If FSU can play anywhere near to the level they did last week in Winston-Salem on a consistent basis, this team will be hosting a Regional come late May with a solid chance at being the second Omaha-bound Seminoles team in the last three years.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: LHP Ryan Marohn (JR) vs LHP Wes Mendes (JR)
Saturday: RHP Jacob Dudan (JR) vs LHP Trey Beard (JR)
Sunday: RHP Heath Andrews (JR) vs RHP Bryson Moore (JR)
Key Players:
Offense
1B Myles Bailey (SO) – .344/.553/.813, 3 2B, 9 HR, 25.5 BB%, 24.5 K%, 1-2 SB. Huge 6’4, 255 lbs frame with a power lefty swing. Was a 1st Team Freshman All-American last year and spent time with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in the summer. He’s a draft-eligible sophomore and has first round talent, but the strikeout rate and defensive limitation will drop him to the 2nd or 3rd round.
CF Brayden Dowd (JR) – .316/.458/.667, 5 2B, 5 HR, 18.1 BB%, 18.1 K%, 2-2 SB. FSU’s lefty batting leadoff hitter is a transfer from USC where he hit .324/.446/.524, 15 2B, 10 HR, 16.5 BB%, 15.4 K%, 3-6 SB last year. His game has translated to the ACC and he should start moving up draft boards, even with less than ideal size at 5’10, 183 lbs.
DH Kelvyn Paulino (FR) – .415/.444/.488, 3 2B, 0 HR, 6.7 BB%, 6.7 K%, 1-2 SB. 6’1, 182 lbs freshman from Thomasville, NC, who attended IMG Academy in Florida. Was the #4 overall player from the State of North Carolina in the 2025 senior class and the #53 player nationally. Has a 7-game hitting streak going.
2B Eli Putnam (rSR) – .292/.414/.583, 2 2B, 4 HR, 11.9 BB%, 22.0 K%, 1-1 SB. Graduate transfer from Davidson who was a two-time 1st Team All-A10 selection. Clubbed 35 HR over his last two seasons with the Wildcats, and after a bit of a slow start to the year has really turned it on of late. All four of his home runs have come in the last seven games, including three in last weekend’s series sweep at Wake.
Pitching
LHP Wes Mendes (JR) – 5-0, 0.63 ERA, 28.2 IP, 8.3 BB%, 37.6 K%. Was rated as a top 50 college prospect for this year’s draft before the season started and is currently doing nothing but moving up boards. Started his career at Ole Miss before transferring to FSU ahead of the 2025 season (7-3, 5.42 ERA, 78.0 IP, 11.4 BB%, 26.3 K%). Has allowed just 3 hits and struck out 23 over his last two starts, spanning 12.1 innings.
LHP Trey Beard (JR) – 2-0, 1.89 ERA, 19.0 IP, 7.1 BB%, 40.0 K%. Transfer from FAU who started 29 games for the Owls over his two seasons with the program, including a 7-1, 1 SV, 3.14 ERA, 86.0 IP, 9.0 BB%, 34.4 K% effort in 2025 that earned him 1st Team All-AAC honors. Was a AAC All-Freshman team selection in 2024. Has a projectable frame and should fire up draft boards this spring, especially as the velo continues to tick up.
RHP Bryson Moore (JR) – 3-0, 3.57 ERA, 22.2 IP, 9.6 BB%, 26.6 K%. Transfer from Virginia where he only threw 31.1 innings across two seasons. With a 6’3, 215 lbs frame and a fastball that can get up to the mid-90’s, he should start moving up draft boards quickly, especially if the control maintains.
RHP John Abraham (JR) – 1-0, 2 SV, 0.50 ERA, 18.0 IP, 7.6 BB%, 36.4 K%. The 6’3, 212 pounder has been a bullpen mainstay for three years now, but he’s hitting a higher level than ever before in 2026. Is a multi-inning arm who hasn’t allowed a run in his last seven outings (16.2 IP). Low-to-mid 90’s fastball and a devastating curve.
RHP Chris Knier (JR) – 0-0, 2 SV, 3.75 ERA, 12.0 IP, 6.3 BB%, 35.4 K%. A bit of an undersized arm compared to the rest of the staff, he’s a former JUCO transfer who spent his freshman year at Indian River State College and then tossed 30.1 innings with a pair of saves last year for the Noles. He can mow ‘em down, but has allowed 3 ER on 5 H over his last 2.0 IP.
LHP Cooper Whited (JR) – 1-0, 3.12 ERA, 8.2 IP, 5.1 BB%, 28.2 K%. JUCO transfer lefty from Gulf Coast State College stands in at 6’1, 199 lbs. Started 26 of his 27 appearances at the JUCO level but is settling in as a multi-inning reliever for FSU this year.
Quick! Fun Facts!
NC State faced off with Eli Putnam twice during his time at Davidson, with Putnam going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and a GIDP.
FSU had seven alums play at the MLB level in 2025: 3B Cam Smith (Astros), LHP Parker Messick (Guardians), LHP Tyler Holton (Tigers), RHP Cole Sands (Twins), C Cal Raleigh (Mariners), SS Taylor Walls (Rays), RHP Luke Weaver (Yankees).
The Seminoles have 24 College World Series appearances, but have never taken home a national title. They’ve been to 19 Super Regionals since 1999, including each of the last two years under Link Jarrett.
Link Jarrett is the father of former NC State player and current Wolfpack assistant coach J.T. Jarrett. Yeah, you’re going to hear that all weekend. Sorry.
The Key To A Series Win For State
NC State has to win the freebie war in this one. A team like FSU needs no help, and the Pack has to avoid doing just that.
Prediction
This is a tough matchup for the Wolfpack as FSU has some stellar starting pitching, a formidable bullpen, and a strong lineup. Pulling out a series win would be a monumental statement, but simply being competitive and avoiding a sweep would also say a lot about the potential of this team.
Outcome: FSU takes 2 of 3.
