FSU Baseball 2018 Weekend Preview: vs. Miami

Here’s a preview of FSU baseball and their next set of games during the 2018 baseball season.

After finally getting off their losing streak and pulling off five wins in a row, the FSU baseball team found themselves on the road being brought back to earth this week against a team that they had handled for two games just one week before – further delaying potential history for their longtime head coach.

Now, the Seminoles welcome their most hated rival on the diamond for a three game series that is highly anticipated just as much for the story lines involving both of the head coaches as much as for the long standing battles and hatred that takes place when the garnet and gold face off against the green and orange.

Here’s our preview of this weekend’s game between the Seminoles and the Miami Hurricanes.

The Last Time The ‘Noles Took The Field

After sweeping Boston College over the weekend, FSU baseball traveled down to DeLand for the third game of the season against the Stetson Hatters. The Seminoles couldn’t overcome five errors – including two by Mike Salvatore – and trailed by four runs entering the eighth inning. The Noles got two back on a bases loaded walk and a sac fly, but Rhett Aplin struck out as the winning run in the ninth inning and Stetson avoid the season sweep with a 5-3 victory.

Opponent Preview

After failing to make the NCAA tournament for the first time in over four decades last season, the Miami Hurricanes have continued a freefall in head coach Jim Morris’ final season in Coral Gables. After sweeping ranked Virginia at home, Miami has lost 12 of their last 17 games – including a midweek loss to FIU – and enters this weekend with a 17-23 record.

For the season, the Canes are batting just .246 as a team with only two players over .300 at this point. On the mound, Miami’s pitching staff is allowing opposing batters to have an average of just .231 on the season while having an ERA of 3.67. The Hurricanes are still going to be a tough foe as seven of their losses this season have been by two runs or less.

Next: Mike Martin breaking wins record vs. Miami would be amazing

Interesting Fact

There is no doubt that FSU baseball would love to get Mike Martin his record setting win in this series over a hated rival, which would mean the Seminoles will need a sweep of the Canes. Sweeps are a rare thing in this series between two of the traditional powers in college baseball as the Noles have swept Miami in Tallahassee just three series over the last 25 years (1993, 2000 and 2012).