Florida State is looking to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the season on Tuesday as conference play begins this weekend against Boston College. The Eagles are soaring high after upsetting the previously top-10-ranked Virginia team, winning the series 2 games to one. They enter Tallahassee on a three-game winning streak with a midweek win against Merrimack on Tuesday. Conference play is what matters, and the Noles can make everything right with a series win this weekend, but baseball is a funny sport, and BC’s 2025 season is a great example.
The Eagles are 7-6 on the season with head-scratching losses to New Orleans, South Carolina Upstate, Richmond, and Longwood University, but again, they just won a series vs UVA. Florida State is 3-3 against BC under Link Jarrett, 19-8 at home, and won the series 2-1 last year at BC. This game will be the Seminole Heritage game for FSU baseball, and the team will wear turquoise caps to honor the proud history of the Seminole Tribe.
Update: due to the threat of inclement weather on Sunday, they will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 pm, with game two to follow. The Friday night game will still begin at 6 pm.
FSU r-Jr. LHP Joey Volini (4-0, 1.16 ERA) vs. BC Jr. RHP Bobby Chicoine (0-1, 5.79 ERA)
Saturday, March 15 – 1 p.m. ET (Game 1)
FSU Jr. LHP Jamie Arnold (2-0, 1.12 ERA) vs. BC Sr. LHP Tyler Mudd (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
Saturday, March 15 – (Game 2)
FSU So. LHP Wes Mendes (3-0, 0.89 ERA) vs. BC TBD
The Eagles’ offense is not bad; as a team, they are batting .297 (74th) and scoring an average of 8.6 runs per game (43rd), which is only a hair shy of FSU’s average at 8.9 RPG. In their one loss to UVA, they still put up 16 runs to UVA’s 22.
Boston College has three hitters (with double-digit plate at-bats) that are batting over .300, led by right fielder Jack Toomey (.383) and second baseman Vince Cimini (.353). On the base paths, the Eagles have three threats to keep an eye on. Left fielder Adam Magpoc, center fielder Josiah Ragsdale, and third baseman Patrick Roche have combined for 22 stolen bases this season. DH Kyle Wolfe is batting .302 and leads the team in home runs with 4. This is not a bad offense by any means, but FSU has a heavy advantage on the mound and defense.
Florida State needs to lean on its dominant starting rotation and solid defense to secure a series win and potential sweep against the Eagles. Florida State comes into this matchup with a 2.68 ERA, which ranks 4th in the country compared to Boston College’s 7.71 ERA (225th). FSU also had an edge in field percentage, committing 3 fewer errors in 3 more games. Florida State will need a better offensive showing than they put on vs. Florida, but the pitching is nowhere near what the Gators brought to Tallahassee.
Florida State will roll out Joey Volini on Friday night, with Jamie Arnold pitching in the Saturday matchup and Wes Mendes on Sunday. With next week’s Miami series starting on Thursday, that puts Arnold back in his normal Friday spot. This will be the best starting rotation the Eagles have faced all season. FSU’s weekend starters have been lights out with a combined 1.06 ERA and racking up a whopping 94 strikeouts, even with Arnold missing last week’s game. However, conference play presents new challenges, and FSU will need its bullpen to hold guard in relief.
For the Eagles, junior right-hander Bobby Chicoine will get the start on Friday. He holds a 0-1 record with 5.79 ERA, 4 strikeouts, and 5 walks in 4.2 innings pitched. BC’s Saturday starter will be senior left-handed pitcher Tyler Mudd, who has been their go-to guy this season with 14.2 innings pitched. Mudd has a 0-1 record with a 6.75 ERA, 14 punch-outs, and 8 walks this season.
Their Sunday starter is to be determined. The Eagles emptied the bullpen in their 22-16 loss vs. UVA with 11 pitchers seeing action, so it’s hard to say who all the Noles will see in relief. However, the entire pitching staff only has three pitchers with an ERA below 3.00. This is a great opportunity for FSU to get the offense back on track if the bats heat up against a BC pitching staff that has struggled this season.
Florida State needs to put the midweek loss behind them and not let it carry over into the weekend. Getting off to a strong start in conference play is important, especially with much tougher games coming down the road. If FSU can leverage its advantage on the mound and get the offense back on track, this should be a series they can win and get back on track. All three games will air on ACCNX. You can listen on WFLA 100.7 and follow along in the FSU Gameday App. Thanks for reading, and Go Noles!
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