The Sunshine State's biggest college baseball rivalry is back on the First Coast. Nationally-ranked Florida State and Florida face off at
6 p.m. Tuesday at the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp's VyStar Ballpark, the latest installment in the
rivals' traditional series. Last year,
Florida State overcame the Gators in a 14-3 run-rule rout, boosted by a Drew Faurot grand slam, the first time they had beaten Florida in Jacksonville since March 31, 2015. Both teams remained perfect well into March, although they've gone in different directions since the end of their winning runs. Florida began 11-0 but has lost six of its last eight. Florida State's perfect opening lasted even longer, at 15-0, and they've largely kept the momentum going, although they incurred their first weekend loss of the season on Friday against Miami.
FLORIDA GATORS BASEBALL: WHAT TO KNOW
The road has turned decidedly bumpy for the Gators (18-8), still searching for their first SEC victory after sweeps at the hands of Tennessee and Georgia. The Gators allowed 40 combined runs in their three-game Friday-Sunday series against the Bulldogs, ballooning the team ERA to 5.22. Perhaps the most effective Gator pitcher thus far is also the newest: Freshman
Aidan King from Bishop Snyder is 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA and an 0.91 WHIP, striking out more than a batter per inning. Florida's lineup has a team OPS of .949, with five batting above .300: Colby Shelton (.382), Brody Donay (.366), Brendan Lawson (.337), Blake Cyr (.333) and Justin Nadeau (.305). Shelton is tied for second in NCAA Division I with 13 doubles.
FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES BASEBALL: WHAT TO KNOW
Looking for pitching? You've come to the right place. Florida State (20-3) ranks third in NCAA Division I with a 2.62 team earned run average, behind only Tennessee and Western Kentucky. Joey Volini (6-0, 0.99), Jamie Arnold (3-1, 2.92) and Wes Mendes (4-0, 2.30) have excelled in the rotation, although all three started in the just-completed weekend series against Miami. At the plate, the Noles pack a punch. Former Bartram Trail star Alex Lodise is hitting .458 with seven homers, 26 RBI and a 1.290 OPS; Max Williams, formerly of Clay, leads FSU with 10 home runs; and freshman Myles Bailey brings prodigious power to the plate (.355, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 1.146 OPS).
LOCALS ON THE ROSTERS
FLORIDA-FLORIDA STATE GAME INFORMATION
All-time records: Florida State leads the series 134-128-1, although the Gators won the most recent meeting 7-2 in Tallahassee on March 11. The schools are also scheduled to meet April 8 in Gainesville.
Tickets : Sold out.
Parking : Available in Lots J and P, southwest and west of EverBank Stadium, beginning at 3 p.m.
Dugouts : Florida State is the home team this year and will be in the third base dugout, with Florida in the first base dugout.
Gates : The home plate gate will open at 3:30 p.m. for batting practice, and all other gates open at 4:30 p.m.
