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FSU Baseball 2018 Weekend Preview: vs. Duke

By Jason Parker

CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Infielder Jayce Boyd #16 of the Florida State Seminoles sets at first 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 Jayce Boyd #16 of the Florida State Seminoles sets at first 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.

The good fortune that most Florida State athletic programs have had against the rival Florida Gators has not extended to the FSU baseball season – who, for the third straight season, were swept in the three regular season meetings as the Seminoles continue their recent slide that has seen them lose their last three games.

Now, the Noles remain home for a three game set against a team who is not only the surprise in the ACC’s Coastal Division, but maybe the most surprising team in the entire conference through the first two thirds of the 2018 season – someone the Seminoles must have success against if they want to turn this season back to the positive side of the spectrum.

Here’s our preview of this weekend’s game between the Seminoles and the Duke Blue Devils.

The Last Time The ‘Noles Took The Field

FSU baseball got on the board first in their game against the Gators with a solo home run by Cooper Swanson in the third inning, but Florida responded with three runs in the following frame. Florida would chase the Seminoles’ starter, Andrew Karp, yet again and had a comfortable lead that the Seminoles cut into with a Jackson Lueck homer in the seventh inning.

However, the Gators would add another run in the eighth inning before striking out five of the final six Florida State batters and cruising to a 6-3 victory to capture yet another series sweep and win their 13th game in the last 14 meetings against the Noles.

Opponent Preview

At 28-7 on the season, Duke has the most wins in the ACC this season and the second best overall winning percentage so far – aided by nine wins in their last 11 games, with the two losses coming last weekend in their first conference series loss of the season against Wake Forest. The Blue Devils bounced back with a 5-0 victory on Tuesday against Davidson, their 16th straight non-conference win this season.

At the plate, Duke is batting just .265 on the season with only one regular starter batting over .300 at this point (with Joey Loperfido going .342 at the plate so far in 2018). On the mound, the Blue Devils have a combined ERA of .335 on the year while holding opposing batters to just a .229 batting average so far.

Next: FSU Baseball in similar predicament as 2017

Interesting Fact

As has been documented, this will be the first time FSU baseball will be playing at home on the same weekend as the football team’s annual Garnet and Gold spring game. The Seminoles hope for the same results as that season – when the baseball team swept Duke by a combined score of 32-10 following a home loss to Florida while the football team went on to win the school’s third national title.

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