Wes Mendes’ start was electric, a no-hitter through 5.1 innings, and had 12 strikeouts as the Florida State baseball team defeated Northern Kentucky 7-3 in the series opener on Friday night.

Mendes (4-0) gave up three runs in the sixth, but just one of them was earned. He left with the game in a precarious spot — bases loaded and one out — although Chris Knier allowed just one run on a fielder’s choice before ending the inning with a strikeout.

Knier tossed 3.2 shutout innings, earning his second save. The right-hander also had four strikeouts and no walks.

The Seminoles scored runs from the start and finished well, too. They had a run in every game but the fifth (and didn’t bat in the ninth).

Noah Sheffield and Will Bavaro hit home runs. Bavaro also had an RBI double, and Sheffield had an RBI groundout.

Up next

FSU will play Northern Kentucky on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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