No. 4 FSU softball hosts Jacksonville Dolphins in midweek action

No. 4 FSU softball (32-7, 11-1 ACC) will host the Jacksonville Dolphins (18-20, 4-8 ASUN) in midweek action Wednesday night before hosting Virginia in conference play this weekend.

FSU swept previously No. 4 Clemson on the road, and Jacksonville got swept by Eastern Kentucky in a three-game series in their last outing.

The Dolphins are batting .238 with a .335 on-base percentage. They strike out in 19 percent of their at-bats and are successful on 28 of 36 stolen base attempts.

Jacksonville batters have only hit 15 home runs. Jacksonville pitchers bring a 4.97 ERA into the contest, striking out 86 batters in 237.1 innings.

They have only walked 124 batters and allowed 24 home runs. Jacksonville’s defense isn’t a strength, with a .953 fielding percentage.

Jacksonville isn’t a good team and the numbers and their record reflects that sentiment.

FSU batters come into the game hitting .304 with a .414 on-base percentage. The Noles are 86 of 96 on stolen base attempts.

FSU pitchers bring a 1.70 ERA into the contest, striking out 215 batters in 243.1 innings. They have only allowed 12 home runs and 75 walks (which is still too many).

FSU’s defense needs improvement, with a .967 fielding percentage. This game is a mismatch on paper, but there could be a hangover effect after their rousing series sweep over Clemson to take sole possession of first place in the ACC.

I want to see them come out focused early and put the Dolphins away. These two teams met once last year, with FSU softball winning 6-3 with Emma Wilson getting the start on the mound.

I’d imagine Lonni Alameda will use this game for some of her younger pitchers to get more experience as she continues to build depth on the mound as the season progresses.

I’d like to see FSU’s better hitters continue to have success to carry them over into conference play this weekend. The game will begin at 6 p.m. ET and will air on the ACCNX channel.