FSU baseball: Noles look to end losing streak against Jacksonville

FSU baseball (16-11, 6-6 ACC) has lost five consecutive games and will look to avenge a previous loss against Jacksonville (15-11, 3-6 ASUN) Tuesday night.

These two teams played in FSU’s fourth game, with the Dolphins taking a 3-2 win at home after trailing 2-0 through the first four innings. It was a game that foreshadowed a big problem for this FSU offense. The first six FSU batters struck out in that game while striking out 14 times total. They left seven runners on base and couldn’t come through in clutch situations.

The good news is Carson Montgomery is a better version than the pitcher that went four innings that night. He’s pitched at least five innings in all but one of his starts since that game.

Starting pitching has been the reason FSU has won the majority of its games, but at some point, this offense is going to have to find another gear if they want to be serious about even making the postseason.

Some folks falsely claim FSU has played the fourth toughest schedule. They have played the 13th toughest schedule, but the remaining games are the fourth toughest. That tells us the offense hasn’t fared well, and the most difficult part of the schedule has yet to take place. Is it possible they can improve despite facing more difficult competition?

Advanced metrics place Jacksonville as the No. 120 team nationally, with FSU baseball checking in at No. 33. Of course, it’s baseball, but these are games FSU has to win.

It’s the mid-point of the season, and they shouldn’t be making the same mistakes they were in game four.

The poor at-bats, poor situational hitting, and poor plate discipline have to improve drastically. The bullpen needs more players to emerge and become consistent when called upon. Tuesday’s game will begin at 5 p.m. and will air on the ACCNX channel.