The debate over whether Florida State will start Wes Mendes in the regional opener now has an answer.

Mendes will instead be working this weekend, with Link Jarrett announcing on Thursday that Bryson Moore will start against St. John’s in the regional opener on Friday (3 p.m. on ACC Network). Moore is 6-2 with a 3.88 ERA, recording 59 strikeouts with just 24 walks in 62.2 innings.

Jarrett and pitching coach Micah Posey have historically opted to save his ace for game 2 of a regional. They could have gone with No. 2 starter Trey Beard, but this would also give the Seminoles the ability to use the left-hander on the weekend, too.

The move is a calculated gamble but Moore is coming off two of his best starts. He pitched six innings and allowed just one earned run in a win at Clemson on May 10, and Moore pitched a season-best 7.2 innings and gave up two earned runs in a loss to Miami on May 16.

Coastal Carolina and Northern Illinois will play in the second game on Friday at 8 p.m. (ESPN+). If FSU defeats St. John’s, the Seminoles would play the Coastal Carolina-NIU winner on Saturday.

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