FSU Meets UNC for Crucial ACC Semifinal Showdown

Durham, NC – Florida State University (FSU) will face the University of North Carolina (UNC) in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) semifinal on Saturday after both teams advanced from the quarterfinals. This matchup marks the fourth meeting between the two teams in just seven days.

The Seminoles (38-13, 17-10) are coming off a decisive quarterfinal win against Duke, where they outscored the Blue Devils 14-7, propelled by Myles Bailey‘s impressive 4-for-5 performance, including two home runs. FSU scored eight runs in the third inning, securing their spot in the semifinal with a strong lead.

On the other side, the Tar Heels (40-12, 18-11) had to rally late to defeat Boston College, ultimately winning 7-2. They were trailing 2-0 before a five-run seventh inning lifted them to victory.

Despite their excellent performance, Florida State finds itself on the fringe of a top-eight NCAA tournament seed. Their chances could improve with a win on Saturday, especially after Oregon‘s surprising loss in the Big Ten tournament. D1 Baseball lists FSU as the #11 seed in their latest bracket projections.

In a key pitching change, FSU will start Wes Mendes, who excelled against UNC last weekend, replacing Joey Volini on the mound. Mendes comes into the game with a record of 6-2 and an ERA of 4.62. Conversely, UNC’s starting pitcher, Jason DeCaro, holds an 8-3 record with a 3.38 ERA.

Fans can catch the action on ACC Network (ACCN) or listen via WFLA 100.7 FM. Today’s game is pivotal as both teams eye a championship berth and enhance their standings for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.