After taking down Duke for another series win in conference play, No. 7 Florida State baseball (21-6, 7-2 ACC) heads to DeLand for a midweek matchup against Stetson (12-16, 3-5 ASUN).
The Seminoles haven’t been the most road-tested through the first seven weeks of the season — of their first 27 games, only five have been true road games. After tonight, the Seminoles travel to No. 10 Virginia for another top-10 series this weekend. In all, seven of FSU’s eight games over the next two weeks are on the road.
The good news for FSU is that the early returns on the road have been strong, with the Seminoles winning four of their first five true road games this season.
The bad news is Florida State is still adapting to life without Myles Bailey, its slugging first baseman who is out for the season after sustaining a severe leg injury in Saturday’s series-clinching win over Duke.
It’ll get a good chance to accelerate that adaptation facing off against a struggling Stetson, which has just one series win (vs. Fordham) under its belt and has failed to find consistent success this season. The Hatters are 10-9 at home and 2-7 on the road, and have dropped five of eight ASUN games to open conference play — though the Hatters did upset Virginia with a walk-off win in February and pulled off a stunner earlier this month by splitting a four-game series with then-No. 5 Arkansas. The pitching staff carries a 5.80 ERA and its lineup, while capable of putting runs on the board, has been inconsistent
Florida State leads the all-time series 70-26, including a 25-15 mark in DeLand. The Seminoles have won two in a row and seven of the last 10 against the Hatters.
FSU has not announced a starter, while Stetson is expected to roll with right-hander Brendan Walker.
FSU vs. Stetson: How to watch, stream, pitching matchup
- Date: Tuesday, March 31
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Melching Field at Conrad Park (DeLand)
- Pitching matchup: FSU TBA vs. Stetson RRJr. RHP Brendan Walker (0-1, 4.70 ERA)
- How to watch: ESPN+
- How to listen: WFLA 100.7 FM in Tallahassee; seminoles.leanplayer.com everywhere
Hatters hitters to watch out for
- INF Juan De La Cruz: De La Cruz leads Stetson at the plate with a .356/.509/.437 batting line, 31 hits and seven doubles through 26 starts. He has drawn 20 walks against just 10 strikeouts, also swiping 16 bases in 17 attempts.
- INF Yohann Dessureault: Dessureault, hitting .284 with three home runs and a team-high 22 RBI, was key to Stetson’s last victory over FSU, logging four hits in a 10-5 Hatters win in 2024.
- OF/IF Landon Russell: Currently hitting .305 (two home runs, six doubles, 18 RBI) while scoring 23 runs
