Seminoles Begin Doubleheader with Win
TALLAHASSEE – In the first game of a doubleheader, the No. 21 Florida State baseball team defeated The Citadel 6-2 on Saturday at Dick Howser Stadium.
The Seminoles (6-2) scored six unanswered runs, including four in the sixth, after the Bulldogs (4-3) took a 2-0 lead in the fifth. FSU’s six runs came on eight hits, while The Citadel was held to two runs on three hits. Florida State had two errors and the visitors had one.
Redshirt senior second baseman Eli Putnam, making his first start as a Seminole, notched his first hits and RBIs at FSU with a two-hit, two-RBI game. Sophomore third baseman Gabe Fraser had a hit with a season-best two RBI and two runs scored. It was Fraser’s two-RBI single in the sixth that gave the Florida State the lead.
Junior left-handed starter Wes Mendes improved to 3-0 on the season. In 6.0 innings, he allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Junior right-hander John Abraham came out of the bullpen for the final 3.0 innings and did not allow a baserunner. While earning his first save of the season and third of his career, Abraham struck out three.
Mendes retired the first six batters he faced. A leadoff walk in the third was The Citadel’s first baserunner, but a groundout ended the inning and stranded a runner on third. A double play helped eliminate a baserunner in the fourth after a leadoff single for the Bulldogs’ first hit.
The Citadel took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, with an error and a run-scoring single. One of the two runs was unearned.
FSU responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth, as Putnam grounded out to score Fraser to make it 2-1.
Mendes capped his outing with a 1-2-3 sixth inning, ending it with a strikeout.
The Seminoles then scored four in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. Two walks and an error loaded the bases, and a sac fly from freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. tied the score at 2-2. With two outs, Fraser gave FSU the lead for the first time. His single through the right side brought home two. Putnam then singled up the middle to drive in Fraser and cap the four-run, three-hit inning.
Abraham relieved Mendes to start the seventh and fired back-to-back perfect innings.
Florida State added one more in the eighth, as freshman left fielder John Stuetzer singled home the Seminoles’ sixth and final run of the contest.
Abraham completed his perfect three innings, and closed out the win, with a one-two-three ninth inning, using just six pitches to retire the side.
Game two of the series, and Saturday’s doubleheader, will conclude the day. The three-game series will wrap up on Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at Seminoles.com/Tickets or by calling the FSU ticket office at 850-644-1830. Admission is free for all FSU students with their FSUID, with the student entrance at the right field gate at Haggard Plaza. All gates at Dick Howser Stadium will open 60 minutes prior to first pitch for every game in 2026.
Every Sunday regular-season home game is Sunday Funday, where Kids Club members and youth wearing their little league jerseys will be admitted free, and kids 12 and under will be allowed to run the bases postgame.
Each game this weekend will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra (Saturday 2 | Sunday), accessible through your television provider or a subscription to ESPN+. Fans can listen to every game via the Seminole Sports Network, with Saturday’s contest on 96.5 FM The Spear and Sunday’s game on WFLA 100.7 FM. Every game also is available around the world on the Seminoles Unconquered App and Seminoles.com. Live stats are at FSU.Statbroadcast.com (Saturday 2 | Sunday). Direct links to watch, listen and follow along can be found on the schedule page at Seminoles.com/Baseball. News, notes and behind-the-scenes updates all weekend are available by following and connecting with the team on social media on Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
The Seminoles (6-2) scored six unanswered runs, including four in the sixth, after the Bulldogs (4-3) took a 2-0 lead in the fifth. FSU’s six runs came on eight hits, while The Citadel was held to two runs on three hits. Florida State had two errors and the visitors had one.
Redshirt senior second baseman Eli Putnam, making his first start as a Seminole, notched his first hits and RBIs at FSU with a two-hit, two-RBI game. Sophomore third baseman Gabe Fraser had a hit with a season-best two RBI and two runs scored. It was Fraser’s two-RBI single in the sixth that gave the Florida State the lead.
Junior left-handed starter Wes Mendes improved to 3-0 on the season. In 6.0 innings, he allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Junior right-hander John Abraham came out of the bullpen for the final 3.0 innings and did not allow a baserunner. While earning his first save of the season and third of his career, Abraham struck out three.
Mendes retired the first six batters he faced. A leadoff walk in the third was The Citadel’s first baserunner, but a groundout ended the inning and stranded a runner on third. A double play helped eliminate a baserunner in the fourth after a leadoff single for the Bulldogs’ first hit.
The Citadel took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, with an error and a run-scoring single. One of the two runs was unearned.
FSU responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth, as Putnam grounded out to score Fraser to make it 2-1.
Mendes capped his outing with a 1-2-3 sixth inning, ending it with a strikeout.
The Seminoles then scored four in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. Two walks and an error loaded the bases, and a sac fly from freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr. tied the score at 2-2. With two outs, Fraser gave FSU the lead for the first time. His single through the right side brought home two. Putnam then singled up the middle to drive in Fraser and cap the four-run, three-hit inning.
Abraham relieved Mendes to start the seventh and fired back-to-back perfect innings.
Florida State added one more in the eighth, as freshman left fielder John Stuetzer singled home the Seminoles’ sixth and final run of the contest.
Abraham completed his perfect three innings, and closed out the win, with a one-two-three ninth inning, using just six pitches to retire the side.
Game two of the series, and Saturday’s doubleheader, will conclude the day. The three-game series will wrap up on Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at Seminoles.com/Tickets or by calling the FSU ticket office at 850-644-1830. Admission is free for all FSU students with their FSUID, with the student entrance at the right field gate at Haggard Plaza. All gates at Dick Howser Stadium will open 60 minutes prior to first pitch for every game in 2026.
Every Sunday regular-season home game is Sunday Funday, where Kids Club members and youth wearing their little league jerseys will be admitted free, and kids 12 and under will be allowed to run the bases postgame.
Each game this weekend will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra (Saturday 2 | Sunday), accessible through your television provider or a subscription to ESPN+. Fans can listen to every game via the Seminole Sports Network, with Saturday’s contest on 96.5 FM The Spear and Sunday’s game on WFLA 100.7 FM. Every game also is available around the world on the Seminoles Unconquered App and Seminoles.com. Live stats are at FSU.Statbroadcast.com (Saturday 2 | Sunday). Direct links to watch, listen and follow along can be found on the schedule page at Seminoles.com/Baseball. News, notes and behind-the-scenes updates all weekend are available by following and connecting with the team on social media on Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter/X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
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