FSU baseball looks to win season series rubber match against Jacksonville

FSU baseball (18-28, 6-18 ACC) has won three consecutive games and looks to win the season series rubber match against Jacksonville (29-18, 13-11 ASUN).

The Noles split the first two games this season, winning 11-2 on the road in late February and losing 5-4 in late April at Dick Howser Stadium.

FSU swept Mercer in a three-game series over the weekend, with Jacksonville losing two of three against the high-powered offense of No. 16 Florida Gulf Coast. The Dolphins are hitting .266 as a team, with an on-base percentage of .383.

They have struck out in 26 percent of their at-bats this season.

Jacksonville pitchers bring a 5.72 ERA into the matchup, with batters hitting .270. They struck out 428 batters but also walked 229 and hit another 72 in 417 innings. Jacksonville has a .971 fielding percentage.

FSU baseball is hitting .278 as a team with an on-base percentage of .350. FSU pitchers bring a 5.94 ERA into the matchup and have struck out 453 batters and issued 244 walks in 407.2 innings. The Noles have a .966 fielding percentage.

This game will come down to FSU’s starting pitching, which was awful the last time these two teams met. Ryan Denison only lasted .2 innings and allowed four earned runs, three hits, and two walks in the top of the first inning, and the FSU offense found itself in a huge early deficit they couldn’t overcome.

I’m not sure who’ll get the start for the Noles Tuesday night, but the FSU offense has come alive over the last five games, averaging 7.8 runs per game.

They’ve been playing better defense, only committing one error in the last three games, while turning several double plays. If FSU pitching can avoid gifting baserunners with walks and hit batters, they’ll have a shot to win their fourth consecutive game.

However, Jacksonville typically plays the Noles tough. The game will begin Tuesday at 6 p.m. and air on the ACCNX channel.