No. 5 Florida State Hosts Rival No. 7 Florida in Key Midweek Matchup

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The No. 5 Florida State baseball team is set to host No. 7 Florida on Tuesday, March 11, at 6 p.m. ET at Dick Howser Stadium. This highly anticipated matchup features two in-state rivals, both of whom reached the national semifinals last season. Currently, Florida State boasts a perfect 15-0 record, making it one of only two unbeaten teams in the nation.

Tickets for the game are sold out to the general public, but limited tickets are still available for FSU students, who can gain admission free of charge with their student I.D. The first 500 fans will receive Garnet and Gold poms/shakers upon arrival.

The game will be streamed live, and fans may access the broadcast via their television provider or a subscription to ESPN+. Additionally, listeners can tune in to the Seminole Sports Network on WTLY 96.5 The Spear, with live stats available on the official FSU athletics website.

On the mound, Florida State’s junior right-hander Evan Chrest (2-0, 2.87 ERA) will face Florida’s right-hander Billy Barlow (1-0, 2.51 ERA). Chrest’s performance has been key to the Seminoles’ recent success, as they swept Lipscomb over the weekend in their final non-conference series before beginning ACC play against Boston College this weekend.

As of this week, Florida State holds positions in the top five of every major poll. They rank No. 5 in the D1Baseball top-25, while securing the No. 4 spot in the Baseball America, NCBWA, and Coaches rankings. Florida State has started their season strong, achieving a record of 15-0 for the fifth time in school history and aiming to match their highest-ever start of 23-0.

Statistically, the Seminoles have scored 140 runs on 185 hits, boasting a .345 batting average alongside 21 home runs and 27 stolen bases. The pitching staff features a strong 2.45 ERA, with junior lefty Jack Volini leading the team at 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA in four starts.

Historically, Florida State leads the series against Florida with an all-time record of 134-127-1. The teams split their last meetings, with FSU winning all three matchups in 2024 after Florida won four consecutive earlier games. Tuesday’s game marks the first top-10 meeting between these rivals since both teams were ranked in March 2019.

Florida comes into this game with a 15-2 record after a recent sweep of Harvard, where they outscored their opponent 41-6. Despite struggling in past encounters with the Seminoles, Florida’s recent strong performances, including standout contributions from players such as Brody Donay and Bobby Boser, provide a glimmer of hope as they seek to regain dominance in this storied rivalry. This contest presents a unique opportunity for the Gators to prove themselves against a formidable foe.

Next for Florida State, the team will open ACC play against Boston College this weekend, while Florida will look to maintain their momentum as they head into a crucial SEC series against Tennessee.