FSU baseball: Can Noles get second straight series sweep?

FSU baseball improved to 3-0 early this week with a road win against the Jacksonville Dolphins. The Noles will return to Dick Howser Stadium for a three-game series against the Western Carolina Catamounts (3-1). The two teams rarely play, with FSU holding a 4-1 advantage. Western Carolina comes into the series batting .340 with a .458 on-base percentage. They strike out in 25 percent of their at-bats and have hit seven home runs (Nate Stocum has three). WCU isn't much of a threat on the bases, with only three stolen base attempts(three steals). Western Carolina pitchers enter the series with a 5.91 ERA. They have 36 strikeouts in 35 innings against 18 walks. They have allowed six home runs, and opposing teams hit .250. They have a .965 fielding percentage.

FSU will have Cam Leiter and Jamie Arnold start the first two games. Western Carolina likely hasn't seen anyone like these two in its first four games. The FSU offense looks to match up well against the WCU pitchers, and WCU will kick it around defensively if given enough chances. WCU starters are not overpowering. Their Friday starter only had 46 strikeouts in 79 innings in Florence-Darlington Technical College last season. The Saturday starter had an 8.15 ERA last season and allowed 11 home runs in 53 innings last year. I look for Cam Leiter to set the tone for the series as he did against Butler last week. The same for Jamie Arnold, but I'll continue to keep a close eye on the FSU bullpen. I think that and defense are the biggest question marks with this team. They will hit and find ways to score runs but must not give opposing teams free outs or walks from the pitcher's mound. The first game will begin at 5 p.m. ET and air on ACCNX.