FSU beats Stetson on road for first time since 2017

No. 7 FSU kicked off its road trip with a ride down south to DeLand, facing off against the Stetson Hatters in the first of two matchups between the schools this season. Florida State shook up its batting order with Myles Bailey lost for the season, as Link Jarrett threw Noah Sheffield back into the lineup and slid Cal Fisher over to third base.

While the sophomore had a few early miscues, his two-run homer in the sixth inning put Florida State back in front before the Seminoles pulled away in the seventh en route to a 6-3 win — FSU’s first in DeLand since 2017. The top of the order went quietly to open the game, with Brayden Dowd grounding out before John Stuetzer and Hunter Carns both struck out. FSU’s defensive mistakes reared their head early, with a first-base overthrow giving Stetson life in the bottom of the first and a misplay on a bunt putting runners on the corners with no outs — which quickly became two RISP after a failed pickoff attempt.

Whited bailed the Seminoles out with a strikeout, and a pair of routine outs kept the damage off the board. The top of the second produced another 1-2-3 frame for FSU, and Stetson answered in kind to keep things moving. Stetson made a change on the mound in the third and FSU quickly took advantage of the switch as Chase Williams knocked a right-field line double to lead off.

A wild pitch and a Carter McCulley walk loaded the corners for Florida State, with the Seminoles taking the lead on a Cal Fisher groundout RBI. Dowd went down swinging and Stuetzer lined out to strand two with a 1-0 lead. Stetson opened its half with a groundout before Whited issued a walk.