Florida State baseball got its 20th win this season in a 3-1 tight game against the Duke Blue Devils in front of a packed Dick Howser Stadium to move to 6-1 in the ACC.
The game shouldn’t have been that close, as FSU blew multiple opportunities to blow the game open early. FSU had runners on third base with fewer than two outs a few times and struck out. The strikeout parade from the Florida game continued, as FSU batters struck out 15 times.
The FSU offense only managed four hits and six walks, and was only 1-5 with runners on third with less than two outs. Kelvyn Paulino had an RBI single, and Chase Williams had an RBI single, but struck out in his other three at-bats. Myles Bailey had a double.
The Noles strike first! A Myles Bailey leadoff double opens the inning, and Kelvyn Paulino Jr. and Chase Williams deliver RBI singles.
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) March 27, 2026
E_6, FSU 2, Duke 0 pic.twitter.com/TnzlIxuPVm
Link Jarrett has to make some changes in the lineup from an offensive standpoint. Some of these guys just can't hit right now.
FSU led 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth and had runners on second and third with only one out, but managed to score an insurance run on a wild pitch.
Luckily, Wes Mendes was doing Wes Mendes things as he shut down the Blue Devil offense. Mendes went 6.2 innings and allowed only four hits, one walk, and struck out 12.
John Abraham finished the final 2.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, no walks, and four strikeouts.
That duo has become nearly automatic in ACC play. It was an ugly win, but FSU left a lot of meat on that bone. They have to figure out hitting when facing someone who's throwing 95+mph. Some of the at-bats looked like they had never hit before in their lives. Just uncompetitive, swinging at anything the pitcher threw up there.
The Noles will look to clinch the series on Saturday with Trey Beard on the mound. The game will start at 2 p.m. and air on the ACC Network.