The stakes are high for Florida State baseball in the final regular-season series of the year, against Miami.
Not only is school pride on the line as the rivalry between the programs is one of the best in college baseball, but also seeding in the ACC tournament, with the No. 11 Seminoles (36-15, 17-10 ACC) eyeing a double-bye in the conference tournament.
The top four in the ACC standings earn double-byes in the conference tournament, with the extra days of rest vital for pitching staffs. The final regular-season games for the ACC will be played on Saturday, May 16, and the first tournament game is set for Tuesday, May 18.
So, where do the Seminoles currently stand in the conference standings ahead of a contest against the Hurricanes (35-15, 15-12 ACC)? FSU sits tied for third in the ACC with Boston College, both holding a 17-10 record, and is two games ahead of Miami in fifth place.
How can FSU baseball secure a top-four seed in the ACC tournament?
In the simplest terms, win.
Should the Seminoles take the series, either with two wins or a sweep, the program will earn a top-four seed and a double-bye into the conference tournament.
Regardless of the weekend result, FSU cannot finish lower than fifth in the conference and will be guaranteed at least one bye into the tournament, with the first round of action featuring teams seeded from ninth to 14th.
The only way for the Seminoles to drop out of the double-bye position is to lose the series to Miami, and Boston College wins its series against Georgia Tech, pushing the Hurricanes and Eagles into the double-bye spots.
If FSU and Link Jarrett want to earn as much rest as baseball ahead of the ACC tournament, a series win over bitter rival Miami is the path.
What seed is FSU projected to earn in the NCAA Tournament
Here is a list of projections from USA Today, Baseball America, and D1 Baseball.
FSU baseball vs. Miami potential starting pitching matchups
How to watch FSU baseball vs. Miami
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: How FSU baseball can secure ACC tournament double-bye in series vs. Miami
Reporting by Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
