After a humbling series-opening loss, Florida State’s bats made quite the statement.
And on a Sunday when NC State chose to intentionally walk Myles Bailey, Nathan Cmeyla made the Wolfpack pay twice.
Cmeyla had an RBI double in the fifth and a two-run double in the sixth as No. 11 FSU poured it on early and often in a 15-5 victory in seven innings over No. 10 NC State to take the series. The Seminoles had 14 hits.
Kelvyn Paulino Jr. had a three-run homer as part of a five-run second that helped FSU build an early 7-0 lead. It was Paulino’s first home run of his freshman season.
John Stuetzer went 3 for 4 with two runs scored for FSU (19-4, 5-1 ACC).
The Seminoles have now won back-to-back ACC series against top-15 opponents, following up a sweep of Wake Forest. After Friday’s series-opening loss to NC State, FSU bounced back with resounding wins over the Wolfpack — including an 11-5 victory on Saturday.
“When you play a series of this magnitude and it gets to the third game to be decided, that's a trait we need to grasp and be performing in those moments,” FSU coach Link Jarrett said. “To see the level of focus on the mound, at the plate, I know the defense wasn't flawless, but it was enough. Proud of the at-bats, proud of the grit, proud of the fight.”
Bailey was walked intentionally three times. While it gives him 29 total walks this season, it also set up some opportunities for Cmeyla.
The senior catcher had an RBI double on the first pitch he saw in the fifth to bring home a run. And in the sixth, Cmeyla worked a full count and had a double to left-center field that brought in two runs.
After going 3 for 5 with a pair of doubles, Cmeyla is now hitting .349.
“I get it — Myles Bailey is one of the best hitters in college baseball,” Cmeyla said. “There’s definitely a little bit of some motivation factor for me, coming up next, knowing that they’re trying to get to me, walking him. I don’t take it personal. It’s whatever. I was happy to get the job done. They walked him, make it hurt a little bit.”
Bailey went 0 for 1 but the three walks and a hit by pitch put him on base often, and he scored four runs. His streak of four straight games with a home run was halted.
FSU hitters only struck out four times after facing double-digit strikeouts on Friday (15) and Saturday (10).
Right-hander Bryson Moore (4-0) tossed four shutout innings before running intro trouble in the fifth. Moore finished with four strikeouts and five hits, three walks and two earned runs.
Gabe Nard allowed two earned runs in an inning-plus of work.
Kevin Mebil earned the final three outs. The left-hander induced a double play to end the game by run rule in the seventh. Jarrett commented that ending the game early felt like a “save,” wrapping up a win but also preserving relievers from being pressed into pitching later innings.
After taking the opener, NC State fell to 18-6, 3-3.
“We knew somebody was going to be on the short end of the stick in the series,” Jarrett said. “And after Friday, quite frankly, I felt like it might be us.”
Up next
FSU plays Florida at Jacksonville on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Jarrett said he’s undecided on a starter but mentioned left-hander Cooper Whited (1-0, 3.12 ERA) among the options.
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