Florida State had showed pop and cut down on the strikeouts in the three-game series at Wake Forest.

But on Friday, the bats struggled with runners in scoring position (1 for 10) and struck out far too often (15) in the Seminoles’ first home loss of 2026.

Myles Bailey hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning to give FSU a short-lived lead before NC State struck back in the sixth and took a 6-4 victory in the first game of the series. Bailey’s home run was his 10th of the season.

The Seminoles (17-4, 3-1 ACC) managed just five hits. Brayden Dowd went 2 for 3 with a double, RBI groundout and a run scored.

But FSU couldn’t manage much through four innings at the plate against NC State left-hander Ryan Marohn, who had a 0.87 ERA coming into the night. Marohn (4-0) had 10 strikeouts in six innings, although Bailey’s opposite-field home run in the fifth was a brief jolt of momentum.

The Seminoles had an excellent scoring opportunity in the eighth as Bailey led off with a walk and Kelvyn Paulino Jr. had a single. Coach Link Jarrett went to the bench and had Chase Williams pinch-hit for Brody DeLamielleure. But Williams did not bunt, seeing a charging third baseman throughout the at-bat, and struck out on four pitches. Nathan Cmeyla then struck out and pinch-hitter Hunter Carns grounded out to end the threat.

Shortstop Cal Fisher also had two fielding errors.

Left-hander Wes Mendes worked a 1-2-3 first inning but dealt with traffic in the rest of his innings. A Fisher error contributed to a run in the second, and Mendes stranded runners in the next few innings.

NC State added an insurance run in the ninth on Fisher’s second error.

But Mendes (5-1) only recorded one out in the sixth before giving up three straight singles. John Abraham inherited the jam, earning a strikeout before issuing a two-out double to Rett Johnson that gave NC State a 5-4 lead.

Mendes gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk. He had five strikeouts.

Abraham tossed 3.2 innings, allowing an unearned run. He had six strikeouts, although Abraham had a walk and three wild pitches.

Thanks for reading the Osceola. Subscribe now for 40 percent off to enjoy a full year of coverage of FSU athletics. You’ll also earn a $15 gift card at the Osceola’s merch store.