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FSU baseball: How Noles stack up against North Carolina

By Kelvin Hunt

Florida State University's Reese Albert (23) runs to second base during a game between FSU and Florida International University at Dick Howser Stadium Wednesday, March 20, 2019.Fsu Baseball Vs Fiu 032019 Ts 740
Florida State University's Reese Albert (23) runs to second base during a game between FSU and Florida International University at Dick Howser Stadium Wednesday, March 20, 2019.Fsu Baseball Vs Fiu 032019 Ts 740 /
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FSU baseball (32-19, 15-12 ACC) will face the North Carolina Tarheels in the final regular-season ACC series.

The Noles are coming off a heartbreaking walk-off home run loss against the rival Florida Gators Tuesday night.

However, a series win over a decent North Carolina team could help the Noles clinch a regional host spot.

North Carolina batters are hitting .279 with an on-base percentage of .377 and have hit 71 home runs, 91 doubles, and 12 triples.

North Carolina pitchers will enter the contest with a 4.43 ERA, with opposing teams batting .256, with 481 strikeouts and 210 walks in 453 innings. They have allowed 69 home runs.

Defensively, North Carolina has 53 errors for a fielding percentage of .971.

FSU baseball pitchers enter the contest with a 3.81 ERA, with opposing teams batting .225 with 629 strikeouts and 166 walks in 465.2 innings.

FSU batters are hitting .261 with an on-base percentage of .364 and have 51 home runs, 102 doubles, and six triples.

Defensively, FSU has 59 errors for a fielding percentage of .969. FSU an RPI ranking of No. 21, compared to North Carolina’s No. 22 ranking.

Key To Victory

FSU baseball has the edge pitching wise, but the rotation will be slightly different with the shorter week. Carson Montgomery will pitch game one, with Parker Messick in game two, and Bryce Hubbart in game three. Montgomery’s performance could be a good barometer for the series. If FSU can get a quality start out of him, the percentages of winning the series go up drastically. However, Montgomery has been shaky in the majority of his outings of late.

UNC has a solid starter in Max Carlson, but everyone else isn’t anything special and not overpowering. North Carolina has four hitters with some major pop in their bats. Alberto Osuna has 16 home runs.

Vance Honeycutt and Mac Horvath have 15 home runs, and Johnny Castagnozzi has nine home runs. However, all four guys strike out often. The key will be keeping runners off the bases when they’re batting. North Carolina pitchers have been prone to the home run and will issue their share of walks. Offensively, FSU has to get runners on base and capitalize when scoring opportunities present themselves.

The game will take place Thursday at 6 p.m. ET and will air on the ACCNX channel.

Next. Takeaways From 'Noles Series Win Over Miami. dark

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