The No. 12 Florida State Seminoles delivered a perfect performance on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader against the Pitt Panthers at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee. With these wins, FSU improved to 33-14 overall and 15-9 in ACC play—a statement weekend for a team heating up at the right time.
Game one was all about dominance. Starting pitcher Wes Mendes was electric, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run on five hits and striking out seven. He didn't walk a single batter, showing pinpoint control that kept Pitt's hitters off balance all afternoon.
The Seminoles' offense gave Mendes early breathing room, erupting for four runs in the second inning. Nathan Cmeyla ignited the rally with a single, followed by a walk from Gabe Fraser and a sacrifice bunt from Eli Putnam. An error on a ball hit by Cal Fisher brought home both runners, and John Stuetzer capped the frame with a two-run homer—his sixth of the season.
Pitt answered with a leadoff home run in the fourth, but it was their only extra-base hit of the game. Mendes responded by striking out two to end the inning, keeping the Panthers at bay.
FSU pulled away in the sixth with a six-run outburst. Cmeyla and Fraser reached base again, and Cmeyla scored on another error off Fisher's bat. Then came the highlight: Fraser, showing incredible instincts, stole home when the catcher threw back to third. Stuetzer followed with a double, Brody DeLamielleure singled him in, and Hunter Carns added a sacrifice fly to make it 10-1.
Game two was a different story—a battle from start to finish. The Seminoles jumped ahead early, with DeLamielleure singling and Carns doubling to put two runners in scoring position in the first. Cmeyla reached on an error to make it 1-0, and Fraser drove in two more with a single, stretching the lead to 3-0. They added two more in the second, making it 5-0.
But Pitt's offense woke up, turning the second game into a nail-biter. The Panthers chipped away, forcing FSU to fight for every out. The Seminoles hung on, showing the grit and resilience that define championship-caliber teams, securing the series win and keeping their momentum rolling.
For fans who love the fight as much as the fireworks, this doubleheader was a reminder of why baseball in Tallahassee is something special. Whether it's a dominant pitching performance or a gritty comeback, the Seminoles are proving they have the heart to compete with anyone.