What looked like a competitive midweek baseball matchup quickly turned with Florida State's 13-run second inning.

Yes, 13 runs on just four hits but with the benefit of four walks and four hit batters — including three straight — as FSU shredded Mercer 22-5 in a seven-inning, mercy-rule game on Wednesday night.

Will Bavaro had a three-run home run in his first FSU start to wrap up the scoring in the second inning, which featured four Mercer pitchers. Bavaro went 2 for 3 with three runs scored and a pair of walks.

FSU’s 13 runs are tied for sixth-most in a single inning in school history and the most since scoring 15 on March 4, 2007, in the seventh inning of a 22-3 win over Siena College.

John Stuetzer went 2 for 5 with a two-run double, RBI single and three runs scored for the Seminoles (10-2).

Noah Sheffield had a three-run home run in a four-run fourth inning (it was his first home run at FSU). Carter McCulley had an RBI double and Kelvin Paulino Jr. had a two-run single in a five-run fifth.

Cooper Whited (1-0) gave up just one earned run, which was an RBI double to former FSU player Titan Kamaka. Whited scattering five hits and striking out two while tossing a pair of wild pitches. He earned the victory in what was determined to be a controlled start.

Cole Stokes also pitched two shutout innings.

Mercer (11-2) tacked on three runs in the seventh before the final outs were recorded.

Up next

FSU plays host to Northern Kentucky on Friday at 6 p.m. to start the Seminoles’ final non-conference weekend series. All three games will stream on ACC Network Extra.

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