Seminole Sunday Sauce — March 29, 2026: FSU Baseball Wins Third Straight ACC Series but Loses Bailey
Three weekends into ACC play and Florida State baseball has won three ACC series. The latest, however, came at a big cost.
In Saturday afternoon’s 12-11 win over Duke, FSU likely lost standout first baseman Myles Bailey for the season as he was injured sliding into second base in the eighth inning. Bailey hit a 2-run home run to tie the game earlier in the contest and began a stretch of six straight runs for the Seminoles. Bailey was carted off the field in an air cast with a gruesome injury to his lower leg. Carter McCulley scored the go-ahead run on the play.
The Seminoles raced to a 4-1 lead on Saturday but were on the short end of a 7-5 score in the sixth before Bailey’s aforementioned 2-run blast. FSU took the lead on an RBI groundout by Hunter Carns before adding three runs in the seventh to extend the lead to 11-7. Duke drew even with four runs in the top of the eighth.
In what will likely be his final game of the year and perhaps in garnet and gold, Bailey scored four runs. John Stuetzer went 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Carns had three RBIs. McCulley finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Kaden Smith, Collin Anderson and Coltin Quagliano each had three hits for Duke.
FSU opened the week by rolling past NC State in the rubber game of a 3-game series on Sunday. The Seminoles needed just seven innings to roll to a 15-5 win. Kelvyn Paulino finished with a homer and four RBIs in the win while Eli Putnam and Nathan Cmeyla each finished with three RBIs. Starter Bryson Moore allowed just two runs in five innings to pick up the win on the mound.
Tuesday night was one to forget for FSU as the Seminoles were blanked by rival Florida in Jacksonville, 5-0. As a team, FSU struck out 16 times and managed just four hits. The Seminoles allowed just five hits but issued eight walks.
FSU bounced back nicely on Friday night with a 3-1 win over Duke. Starting pitcher Wes Mendes was the story, going 6.2 shutout innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out 12.
Paulino and Chase Williams came through with RBI singles in the sixth to break the scoreless tie. John Abraham went the final 2.1 innings to earn the save.
As FSU goes for the sweep of Duke on Sunday, it will come in with a 21-5 overall record and with an ACC-best 7-1 record in conference. After visiting Stetson on Tuesday, FSU will head to Charlottesville for a big 3-game series against No. 9 Virginia.
FOOTBALL
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2027 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 20 nationally, eighth in ACC* (5 total commitments)
Wrap-up: Five months separate us from the start of the 2026 season.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 18-15
Ranking: N/A
Recognitions: Robert McCray V, G (CSC Academic All-District); Alex Steen, F (CSC Academic All-District)
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2027 Recruiting Class Rank: N/A (0 total commitments)
Wrap-up: Year two expectations under Luke Loucks will almost certainly be higher. The Seminoles appear to have a very bright future.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 13 CSCAA
Past Week: FSU men finished 25th at NCAA Championships
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU’s men capped the season with a top-25 national finish and a handful of All-American honorees.
Track and Field
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: Hosted Terry Long FSU Relays
Upcoming: Stanford Invite (Friday); UF Relays (Saturday)
Recognitions: Shenese Walker (ACC Indoor Women's Performer of the Year); Matt Kane (ACC Indoor Men’s Coach of the Year)
Wrap-up: FSU kicked off the outdoor season with a strong showing at home.
Men’s Tennis
Record: 11-11 (2-7 ACC)
Ranking: No. 50 ITA
Past Week: (0-2), lost at SMU on Sunday, 4-1; lost to Virginia on Friday, 4-0
Upcoming: vs. Virginia Tech (Sunday); vs. Duke (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU’s momentum was halted this week against solid competition.
Women’s Tennis
Record: 4-13 (0-7 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-2), lost to Virginia Tech on Sunday, 4-1; lost at Clemson on Friday, 4-2
Upcoming: at Georgia Tech (Sunday); vs. Boston College (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU gave a great effort against a top-25 Clemson team but was unable to get that coveted first ACC win.
Women’s Golf
Ranking: No. 18 WGCA Coaches
Past Week: Won Seminole Match Up
Upcoming: Coach Mo Classic (Monday-Tuesday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU rolled to victory at home last week. It will have one more event before the ACC Championships.
Men’s Golf
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: Finished fifth at Valspar Collegiate Invitational
Upcoming: Lewis Chitengwa Invitational (April 13-14)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU had a strong showing in Palm City. Tyler Weaver took the individual crown.
Softball
Record: 31-4 (8-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 10 USA Softball; No. 10 D1Softball; No. 10 Softball America; No. 8 NFCA Coaches
Past Week: (4-0), beat California on Sunday in five innings, 9-1; beat North Florida on Tuesday in five innings, 8-0; beat Clemson on Friday, 4-1; beat Clemson on Saturday, 4-2
Upcoming: at Clemson (Sunday); vs. Notre Dame (Thursday); vs. Notre Dame (Friday); vs. Notre Dame (Saturday)
Recognitions: Shelby McKenzie, UT (ACC Player of the Week, NFCA National Player of the Week)
Wrap-up: FSU has stayed hot. The Seminoles have now won 20 games in a row.
Lacrosse
Record: 3-9 (0-7 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: vs. Duke (Sunday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU will have three more chances to get an ACC win in its inaugural season.
Baseball
Record: 21-5 (7-1 ACC)
Ranking: No. 10 Baseball America; No. 10 Perfect Game; No. 10 D1Baseball; No. 8 USA TODAY Coaches; No. 8 NCBWA
Past Week: (3-1), beat NC State on Sunday in seven innings, 15-5; lost Florida on Tuesday in Jacksonville, 5-0; beat Duke on Friday, 3-1; beat Duke on Saturday, 12-11
Upcoming: vs. Duke (Sunday); at Stetson (Tuesday); at Virginia (Thursday); at Virginia (Friday); at Virginia (Saturday)
Recognitions: Myles Bailey, 1B (ACC Player of the Week)
Wrap-up: FSU has won three straight ACC series, but the latest one came at a large price.
Beach Volleyball
Record: 22-1 (6-1 Big 12)
Ranking: No. 5 AVCA
Past Week: (3-0), beat Boise State in Big 12 Preview on Friday, 5-0; beat Arizona in Big 12 Preview on Friday, 4-1; beat TCU in in Big 12 Preview on Saturday, 3-2
Upcoming: vs. Jacksonville (FSU Challenge, Friday); vs. Loyola Marymount (FSU Challenge, Friday); vs. Southern Mississippi (FSU Challenge, Saturday); vs. Loyola Marymount (FSU Challenge, Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU rolled past the competition in Fort Worth. The Seminoles have won 13 straight duals.
*Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite rankings
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
