Long balls, pitching dominance help FSU finish sweep of BC in doubleheader

This Florida State baseball team is capable of winning games in a variety of ways.

It sure proved that during a Saturday doubleheader sweep of Boston College.

After the fifth-ranked Seminoles (18-1, 3-0 in ACC) smashed the Eagles with a 14-0 run-rule win in seven innings in Game 1, FSU pitched its way to a 6-2 win over BC (7-9, 2-4) to complete a sweep of the Eagles.

FSU swept the series by a combined margin of 28 to 4. After hitting four home runs in Friday's series opener, the Seminoles hit five homers in Saturday's doubleheader.

That was more than enough for the Seminoles' starting rotation, which worked 17.2 combined innings vs. BC and allowed no earned runs on nine hits.

Game 1

FSU picked up right where it left off Friday night in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader.

The Seminoles scored in each of their first four innings at the plate, jumping out to a 10-0 lead to give Jamie Arnold some serious run support in his return to the mound.

Freshman first baseman Myles Bailey opened the scoring with a monster three-run homer to dead center in the first inning. It was his third home run in as many games and sixth of the season, tying him with Drew Faurot for the team lead.

FSU plated three more runs in the second on a bases-clearing double by Alex Lodise, one of two doubles and four hits he had in the first game of the day to raise his batting average to .446.

Leadoff hitter Gage Harrelson also had four hits, capping his day off with his second homer of the season, a two-run rocket to right field, in the sixth inning. The pair at the top of the FSU lineup combined for seven RBI and three extra-base hits in Game 1.

The Seminoles had 16 hits in six innings at the plate in the opening game of the doubleheader.

That was more than enough for Arnold in his return to action after he was scratched from his start last Friday vs. Lipscomb. The FSU ace had five strikeouts through his first two innings, worked out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the third inning and largely rolled through his outing.

Because he missed a week and FSU was well ahead in the game, the Seminoles were conservative with his pitch count, pulling him after 4.2 innings and 79 pitches. Still, he was quite effective, allowing just one hit and two walks over his outing while striking out eight.

In four starts this season, Arnold has allowed eight hits and three earned runs over 20.2 innings with 32 strikeouts to four walks, posting a 0.87 ERA.

Chris Knier picked up the rest of the game from there, working 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to finish off the run-rule victory as well as the shutout.

Game 2

After two offensive outbursts to begin ACC play, the FSU bats finally went dead a bit in the final game of the series.

The Seminoles put up a three-spot in the first inning anchored by a two-run homer by Max Williams. From there, they put up four straight scoreless innings and plated just three more runs over the final seven innings at the plate in the second game of the doubleheader.

Thankfully for them, the offense didn't need much production in Saturday's second game because of the Seminoles' dominance on the mound.

In his ACC debut, sophomore lefty Wes Mendes again upped his game with another sensational start vs. the Eagles. He was efficient throughout his start, setting the stage for him to become the first FSU starter to throw a pitch in the eighth inning this season.

He threw a career-high seven innings vs. BC, allowing no earned runs (one unearned) on four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks. He's allowed just two earned runs in 27.1 innings this season and has a 0.66 ERA with 43 strikeouts to three walks through his first five starts as a Seminole.

After Mendes allowed a leadoff double in the eighth, Maison Martinez came out of the bullpen and struck out the first three batters he faced to get out of the inning and then allowed one run in the ninth before closing things out.

Over the entire BC series, FSU's pitching staff allowed two earned runs over 25 innings with 36 strikeouts to five walks. The Eagles were a combined 4 for 31 (.129) with runners on base and 1 for 15 (.067) with runners in scoring position.

Drew Faurot added his seventh homer of the season in the seventh inning and then Max Williams followed with his seventh homer of the season in the eighth inning to cap off FSU's powerful weekend.

Up Next

FSU closes out its 12-game homestand over the last few weeks with a midweek game vs. Mercer Tuesday at 6 p.m.

After that, the Seminoles are on the road for a three-game series at Miami next Thursday through Saturday.

Topics

No. 4 FSU baseball sweeps ACC opener against Boston College with doubleheader victory

Florida State baseball completed a sweep of Boston College with a pair of wins in a doubleheader on Saturday, hitting five home runs in two games.
Yahoo Sports - 9h
FSU softball sweeps doubleheader from Pitt on alumni weekend

The Florida State softball team was back at JoAnne Graf Field for an ACC series opening weekend against Pittsburgh. Entering ACC play, the Seminoles had a 22-5 record and a No. 10 national ...
Yahoo Sports - 7h
Joey Volini keeps BC in check, Drew Faurot hits 2 of FSU's 4 HRs in win

Joey Volini got into trouble a few times only to find his way out of a jam. It wasn't a six-inning masterpiece but the left-hander delivered a tone-setting start in Florida State's opener against ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
No. 4 FSU baseball claims ACC opener with 4 home runs in 8-2 win over Boston College

No. 4 Florida State baseball wasted little time getting back in the win column, hitting four home runs Friday night to beat Boston College 8-2.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Mets' Edwin Diaz has 'better' spring outing against Red Sox: 'From the first pitch, there was conviction'

Mets closer Edwin Diaz had his best outing this spring, throwing just 18 pitches to get three outs on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
FSU strength and conditioning coach Josh Storms impressed by newcomers' first Tour of Duty

FSU football's strength and conditioning coach Josh Storms explains this year's Tour of Duty and what stood out to him.
Yahoo Sports - 20h
UFC Fight Night 254 video: Andre Lima dominates, finishes Daniel Barez

The UFC flyweight division best beware. Andre Lima is on the rise, as was evident by his dominant submission win over Daniel Barez on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 254 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. ...
Yahoo Sports - 11h
Yoshinobu Yamamoto stays in line to pitch opening day for the Dodgers in Tokyo

Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his fourth and final Cactus League appearance Monday, throwing 75 pitches over five innings, giving up a run on four hits and striking out seven.
Yahoo Sports - 5d
McLaren dominates first F1 qualifying of the season at Australian GP as Lewis Hamilton finishes eighth in Ferrari debut

McLaren finished with an impressive one-two in the first Formula 1 qualifying event of the 2025 season at the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday.
Yahoo Sports - 21h

Long balls, pitching dominance help FSU finish sweep of BC in doubleheader

Game 1

Game 2

Up Next

Topics

Related

No. 4 FSU baseball sweeps ACC opener against Boston College with doubleheader victory

FSU softball sweeps doubleheader from Pitt on alumni weekend

Joey Volini keeps BC in check, Drew Faurot hits 2 of FSU's 4 HRs in win

No. 4 FSU baseball claims ACC opener with 4 home runs in 8-2 win over Boston College

Mets' Edwin Diaz has 'better' spring outing against Red Sox: 'From the first pitch, there was conviction'

FSU strength and conditioning coach Josh Storms impressed by newcomers' first Tour of Duty

UFC Fight Night 254 video: Andre Lima dominates, finishes Daniel Barez

Yoshinobu Yamamoto stays in line to pitch opening day for the Dodgers in Tokyo

McLaren dominates first F1 qualifying of the season at Australian GP as Lewis Hamilton finishes eighth in Ferrari debut

More from Yahoo Sports

Technology provides benefits for West Virginia football

Commanders bring back former No. 4 overall pick for 2025

LIVE UPDATES: Bishop Stang vs. Hingham girls hockey MIAA state championship

Huge mock draft update after 1st wave of free agency

Indiana women’s basketball March Madness predictions: Where Hoosiers could land in NCAA bracket

More in Sports

Technology provides benefits for West Virginia football

Commanders bring back former No. 4 overall pick for 2025

LIVE UPDATES: Bishop Stang vs. Hingham girls hockey MIAA state championship

Huge mock draft update after 1st wave of free agency

Indiana women’s basketball March Madness predictions: Where Hoosiers could land in NCAA bracket