Florida State baseball is back, with an Opening Weekend series against James Madison on deck at Dick Howser Stadium.
An Opening Day showdown between the Seminoles and the Dukes saw Wes Mendes take the mound for FSU, given the Friday starter role after being the Sunday starter last season. The Seminoles won 5-1 thanks to a late two-RBI single from Noah Sheffield.
Mendes worked five innings, and he struck out seven batters while giving up four hits and a walk on 75 pitches in his Opening Day start. It wasn’t his cleanest outing, but he came up with a few crucial strikeouts after allowing a runner to move into scoring position in four of the five innings pitched.
James Madison started right-hander Griffin Polley in game one. He threw three innings and allowed a pair of home runs.
“All his stuff is there, and the stuff has improved, and the data that we get, the metrics on every pitch will tell you that,” Jarrett said on Thursday. “He’s got to stay focused in his mechanics and finish these pitches and allow the pitch count to stay on schedule.”
FAU transfer lefty Trey Beard was slated to start game two, but was scratched due to an illness. Bryson Moore, who was scheduled to start on Sunday, moves up to start in his place. JMU will throw lefty Tyler Muscar.
Follow along with live score updates from Howser with the Tallahassee Democrat’s live scoreboard!
Live score updates from FSU baseball’s Opening Day game vs JMU
Game 2: Brayden Dowd’s 3-run blast puts FSU ahead
Final: FSU run rules James Madison: The top four of FSU’s lineup (Dowd, Sheffield, Bailey, and Fisher) went a combined 12-for-14 with 11 RBI and four extra base hits alongside five walks.
Dowd hit a three-run home run and fell a triple short of the cycle, and Sheffield went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
The Seminoles scored a run in all but one inning on the way to the run rule.
Through 2 innings, 5-3 FSU: The Seminoles and Dukes have already surpassed the run total from game one.
Cal Fisher got FSU on the board first with a chooper that bounced off the JMU third baseman, which scored a runner. He was credited with an RBI double. A sac fly from Hunter Carns scored another run, and FSU went ahead 2-0 after one inning.
JMU put up a three-spot in the second inning, and FSU pulled Bryson Moore after a two-RBI double. It followed a fielder’s choice that scored a run. The Dukes’ 3-2 lead didn’t last long, however, as Brayden Dowd hit a three-run home run and Noah Sheffield scored on a wild pitch, giving the Seminoles a 6-3 lead.
Game 1: Seminoles beat James Madison 5-1
Final: FSU beats James Madison 5-1: Noah Sheffield’s two-RBI single in the eighth inning pushed No.16 Florida State baseball past James Madison 5-1 on Friday, Feb. 13, at a sold-out Dick Howser Stadium on Opening Day.
8th inning, 5-1 FSU: Noah Sheffield, who was a pinch hitter for Gabe Fraser, entered the game with the bases loaded and the Seminoles (1-0) ahead 2-1. JMU brought in reliever Adam Horvath to face him, and after a balk on his first pitch attempt, FSU went ahead 3-1.
On his first official pitch to Sheffield, the sophomore hit it back up the middle, splitting a scrambling second baseman and shortstop, for a two RBI single and a 5-1 lead
6th inning, 2-1 FSU: James Madison scored on a wild pitch from John Abraham. He replaced Wes Mendes after five innings. The Dukes had runners on second and third base with one out, and while Abraham racked up back-to-back strikeouts after allowing the base runners, the wild pitch made it a 2-1 game in the top half of the inning.
2nd inning, 2-0 FSU: Following Bailey’s first-inning blast, right fielder Brody DeLamielleure led the second inning off with a home run of his own. Blasted it 392 feet over the right center field wall.
1st inning, 1-0 FSU: Myles Bailey needed just one pitch to hit his first home run of the year, taking a first-pitch fastball 425 feet and well over the right field wall at Howser to give the Seminoles a 1-0 lead.
FSU baseball starting rotation vs. JMU
How to watch FSU baseball vs. JMU on Opening Weekend
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU baseball vs. James Madison live score updates from game two
Reporting by Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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