Florida State baseball made a powerful statement in their series opener against Notre Dame, securing a dominant 11-0 run-rule victory that showcased both pitching brilliance and offensive firepower.

Starter Wes Mendes set the tone early, striking out the side in the first inning and delivering six scoreless frames. His final line—6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 7 K, 2 BB—was a masterclass in control, stifling the Fighting Irish offense from the jump.

The Seminoles' bats provided immediate support. In the bottom of the first, Brayden Dowd and Chase Williams hit back-to-back singles, setting the stage for Nathan Cmeyla's one-out double that drove both runners home for a quick 2-0 lead.

After a couple of quiet innings, FSU struck again in the fourth. Capitalizing on a Notre Dame throwing error, they pushed two more runs across, extending their lead to 4-0 and demonstrating their ability to pressure opponents into mistakes.

Mendes navigated a minor threat in the fifth, and then the floodgates opened in the sixth. With two outs, the Seminole offense erupted for seven runs. The inning was capped by a pair of three-run homers—a blast to center field by John Stuetzer, his fifth of the season, followed by Eli Putnam's no-doubter. The explosive rally put the game firmly out of reach.

Reliever Brodie Purcell entered in the seventh to close out the combined shutout, sealing a commanding game-one win. This victory not only gives Florida State crucial momentum in the series but also highlights the team's balanced strength as they continue their push through the season.