2018 Game Notes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 5 Florida State (20-5) will face off with No. 2 Florida (21-5) at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville Tuesday for the Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown. The Seminoles are coming a 4-1 week, including a pair of wins against No. 21 UCF and a series win at North Carolina.

The Seminoles jumped three spots in the USA Today poll and are ranked in the Top 10 in all six major college baseball polls. Junior Jackson Lueck was named the ACC Player of the Week after hitting .368 with three home runs and 10 RBI last week against the Knights and Tar Heels.

FSU is looking to split the season series with the Gators after Florida took the first game two weeks ago in Gainesville. That game at Florida helped spark the current power surge for the Noles, who have hit 17 home runs over the past nine games after hitting just seven in the first 16. FSU hit four home runs at Florida, including a pair from first baseman Rhett Aplin.

Lueck and Nick Derr combined for five home runs last week, with the two hitting back-to-back jacks in the eighth inning of FSU’s 9-4 win at UNC on Sunday. Derr’s grand slam was FSU’s first of the season his fifth home run of the year, tied with Lueck for the team lead.

BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Dave Neal (PxP) and Kyle Peterson (Commentary)

SEC Network – 6:00 P.M.

PITCHING MATCHUPS

Tuesday – RHP Andrew Karp (FSU) vs. RHP Jack Leftwich (UF)

Karp – 4-1, 3.72 ERA; Leftwich – 2-1, 5.40 ERA

MARTIN CLOSING IN ON RECORD

Head coach Mike Martin is just 12 wins away from becoming college baseball’s winningest coach. Martin is 1,964-699-4 over 39 seasons at Florida State and trails the late Augie Garrido (1,975) for the most in NCAA history. Martin’s .738 career winning percentage is the best among active coaches.

Garrido passed away March 15, leading Martin to say, “College baseball and the world lost one of the finest men in our coaching profession. Augie dedicated his life to making young men better people. He will be deeply missed by myself and many others.”

For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, or keep up with the team on social media through Twitter (@FSUBaseball), Facebook (/FSUBaseball), and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).