FSU baseball (32-10, 14-7 ACC) has shown progression over the past few weeks. I wrote how they couldn't make the same mistake against Clemson as they did against Wake Forest, and the Noles blasted the Clemson Tigers 20-9 in the rubber match to win the series.
In many ways, winning the rubber match could give FSU some confidence as they near the finish line to the regular season. The Clemson series had a Super Regional feel, and it would have been do-or-die on Sunday if it had been the postseason.
FSU showed it had what it took to take out the No. 3 team nationally, which should bode well if they get into that position in a few weeks.
About two weeks ago, I wrote about how a strong finish to the season could help FSU clinch a top-8 seed in the postseason, which would have FSU playing in front of its home crowd through Super Regionals like last season. I said if the Noles could finish 10-4 in the final 14 games or better, that would likely lock up a top-eight finish.
FSU has gone 4-3 in the first seven of those games, with three games against California and three against North Carolina, with a non-conference game against Jacksonville left. FSU should go 4-3 at worst in the remaining seven, which would put them at 8-6 over the final 14. However, nine of those 14 would be against the top 25 teams.
FSU has the No. 6 ranked RPI nationally and several other top teams lost over the weekend. The final ranked opponent the Noles will face in the regular season has the No. 10 RPI in North Carolina. FSU is atop the ACC standings and the top ACC school according to RPI.
If they finish the final seven games without having an absolute meltdown, there's no reason FSU won't be a top-eight seed.