Jacksonville, Fla. — What a finish! What a game! The No. 4 Seminoles (21-3) evened the series against the Gators (18-9) with one of the most heart-pumping finishes you’ll see in college baseball. Clinging to a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Florida State was a mere strike away from closing the door on any hopes of a comeback by their in-state rivals when disaster struck. Florida plated the tying run on a Landon Stripling double, and then Hayden Yoast singled the next at-bat to put the Gators ahead for the first time all night 4-3.
Just when it felt like things had come unraveled, the Noles put on their rally caps and stayed in the fight, loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth. Gage Harrelson drove in the tying run, and then the night’s hero, Alex Lodise, hit a walk-off grand slam to win the game and complete the cycle. This is what rivalries are all about. It was an emotion-filled battle by both teams that came down to the wire.
Lodise is the first FSU player to hit for the cycle since 2019. Afterwards, he commented, “I blacked out rounding first base. I was yelling, I’m going to lose my voice tomorrow, probably. I let it all out. I knew it as soon as I hit. It was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.” We feel you, Alex. I couldn’t contain my excitement just watching it happen, as I’m sure was the case for most FSU fans. I can only imagine how he felt.
Florida State jumped out to a one-run lead in the first inning on a Drew Faurot RBI single that brought in Alex Lodise. After a scoreless second inning, the Gators tied it up in the third as Ty Evans hit a single, stole second, and scored on a pair of wild pitches. Florida put pressure on the Seminoles on the base paths, leveraging a weakness we have seen other teams begin to exploit this season. This brought starter John Abraham’s night to a close after going 2.2 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit, with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks.
Jacksonville native Brody DeLamielleure put the Noles back on top 3-1 with a two-run blast in the fourth. Joe Charles took the mound in relief of Abraham and held the Gators scoreless with two flawless innings in the fourth and fifth frames. However, he loaded the bases in the sixth after walking three batters, which led to a pitching change and Chris Knier toeing the rubber. Knier walked in a run to cut FSU’s lead to one (3-2), but he avoided any further damage by stranding three Florida base runners. Freshman catcher Hunter Carnes finally made UF pay on the bases by gunning out a gator baserunner trying to steal with a rope to second base.
WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM TO COMPLETE THE CYCLE AND BEAT THE GATORS 🔥
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 26, 2025
ALEX LODISE YOU ARE RIDICULOUS‼️ @FSUBaseball pic.twitter.com/NVMyxuKrV6
Neither team scored in the seventh or eighth innings, setting up the wild finish. After UF tied the game, Hudson Rowan came in the game to close things out but ended up giving up the lead. FSU loaded the bases on a Jaxson West walk, Hunter Carnes hit-by-pitch, and a second walk by UF reliever Alex Philpott, who has been lights out up to that point. Gage Harrelson’s hustle beat a grounder to second, which brought in the tying run.
That’s when FSU completed the comeback on the very next pitch as Lodise sent a rocket to right field for the game-winning grand slam. It was a no-doubter as soon as it left the bat. It was a great night for the North Florida native who began his career at UNF less than 10 miles from where tonight’s game was held. The sold-out crowd at Jacksonville Baseball Grounds erupted immediately as they witnessed the ball fly over the outfield wall. The Florida dugout fell stone-cold silent as they watched FSU’s dugout empty onto the field to welcome Lodise to home plate to seal the victory.
Head coach Link Jarrett said after the game, “Can’t say enough about the tenacity of the guys because you’re really one pitch, one out away from winning this thing and to have it snatched away and then the at-bats there in the bottom of the ninth. Exceptional all the way around. Couldn’t be more proud of the performance from start to finish.” He also mentioned that he had never seen or heard of a player ending a game on a walk-off grand slam to complete the cycle.
This could be one of those program-defining moments as FSU fell flat against the Gators in game one and couldn’t complete the comeback in game two vs. Miami. This is one of those moments they can look back on and remember they are only a swing away from doing the unthinkable when adversity strikes.
It was pure elation on the night for Seminole Nation to win such a thriller. Especially getting payback against a bitter rival and coming off a series win against the other hated rival, Miami. It’s always great to beat the Gators, but to beat them and the Canes back-to-back is pure sweetness for the FSU faithful. The Noles will face the Gators one more time this season to decide the series on April 8th in Gainesville. Up next for the Noles is a road trip to South Bend for a weekend series against Link Jarrett’s former squad, the Fighting Irish (12-9). Thanks for reading and Go Noles!
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