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FSU Baseball 2018 Weekday Preview: vs. UCF

By Jason Parker

CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Infielder Justin Gonzalez #10 of the Florida State Seminoles runs to second base against the Philadelphia Phillies February 24, 2011 at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Infielder Justin Gonzalez #10 of the Florida State Seminoles runs to second base against the Philadelphia Phillies February 24, 2011 at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /
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Here’s a preview of FSU baseball and their next set of games during the 2018 baseball season.

At the start of last weekend’s series, FSU baseball found themselves dealing with the same problems that have been affecting them the past week and a half – by the end of the weekend, the Seminoles looked like a whole different team that was ready to get back to their winning ways from earlier in the season.

Now, the Noles remain in town for a two game set against yet another NCAA tournament team from last season – before a seven game stretch against some of the nation’s top teams that could make or break the rest of the regular season for head coach Mike Martin and his group of players.

Here’s our preview of this week’s game between the Seminoles and the UCF Knights.

The Last Time The ‘Noles Took The Field

Friday night, FSU baseball welcomed the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to town for a three game set that started off the way many games had recently – with the Seminoles having to play from behind after spotting their ACC foes four runs each in the third and seventh innings. Florida State would get within one run after a three run eighth inning, but the Irish escaped with a 8-7 win.

Saturday, the luck of the Irish was actually with the Seminoles on St. Patrick’s Day as the Noles got two RBIs each from Cal Raleigh and Nick Derr to go along with a solid performance on the mound from Drew Parrish (7.1 IP and just four hits and three runs given up) as FSU baseball got a 6-4 win.

Sunday, Notre Dame jumped out to an early lead before the Seminoles clawed their way back – and with the game tied at four in the seventh inning, the Noles got three runs thanks to a throwing error and wild pitch from the Fighting Irish and Florida State took the series with a 7-5 victory.

Opponent Preview

After starting off the season with a 1-3 record, the UCF Knights have won 16 of their last 17 games that includes two wins over Florida and a three game sweep last weekend over Chicago State by a combined 38-1 score that game days after a heartbreaking one run loss at home to Miami.

The Knights have been crushing it from the plate this season, batting .299 as a team with six players batting over .300 this season – including Ryian Thomas and his .455 average so far. On the mound, the UCF staff has a combined ERA of 2.25 with all three weekend starters under two this season and opponents batting just .199 this season.

Interesting Fact

After a nearly decade long run of not playing, FSU baseball and UCF have renewed their series in a big way of late. The teams have played each of the last six seasons with the Seminoles holding a 16-2 record over that span, including seven straight wins.

Last season, the Noles swept two games on the road and defeated the Knights during the Tallahassee Regional of the NCAA Tournament.

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