In a thrilling midweek matchup, No. 14 Florida State baseball (34-14, 15-9 ACC) showed their championship mettle, rallying from an early deficit to defeat Jacksonville (26-21, 13-11) 5-2 and complete a season series sweep. The Seminoles' comeback was powered by timely hitting and a dominant bullpen performance that kept the Dolphins at bay.
The story of the night was once again FSU's relief corps. Without calling on stars John Abraham or Chris Knier, the bullpen delivered 6.1 innings of two-run ball. Brodie Purcell was the anchor, tossing 3.0 shutout innings to stabilize the game, while Kevin Mebil closed the door with six up, six down in the eighth and ninth. With no midweek games left on the schedule, coach Link Jarrett now has a deep, trusted stable of relievers ready for the postseason push.
Offensively, the Seminoles needed time to find their rhythm, but the top of the lineup—John Stuetzer, Brayden Dowd, and Brody DeLamielleure—came through when it mattered most, combining for two home runs and three RBIs. DeLamielleure was the breakout star, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. However, inconsistency remains a concern: the rest of the lineup managed just three hits, none for extra bases.
Left-handed starter Cooper Whited picked up right where he left off from his dominant midweek start last week. He needed just nine pitches to retire the Dolphins in order in the first inning and struck out the side in the second, working around a two-out walk. Whited threw 22 of his first 26 pitches for strikes, showcasing a changeup with arm-side run and a sharp 12-6 breaking ball.
Unfortunately, FSU's offense couldn't capitalize on Whited's strong start. They stranded DeLamielleure on second in the first inning after his two-out double and were retired in order in the second after Gabe Fraser was picked off first. Whited found trouble in the third, giving up a hit-by-pitch and a bloop single, but the bullpen and bats eventually took over to secure the win.
This victory not only completes the sweep but also builds momentum for a Seminoles team that's finding ways to win even when the bats are quiet. With a reliable bullpen and a top of the order heating up, FSU looks poised for a strong finish to the regular season.