{"id":210081,"date":"2026-03-28T23:18:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T23:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/210081\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T23:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T23:18:12","slug":"mendes-shines-as-no-10-fsu-downs-duke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/210081\/","title":{"rendered":"Mendes Shines as No. 10 FSU Downs Duke"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE \u2013 The No. 10 Florida State baseball team defeated Duke 3-1 to begin a three-game ACC series at Dick Howser Stadium on Friday night in Tallahassee.
\n\u00a0
\nJunior left-handed starter Wes Mendes<\/a> struck out a career-high-tying 12 batters in 6.2 shutout innings as the Seminoles (20-5, 6-1 ACC) used a two-run sixth inning to down the Blue Devils (17-11, 4-6 ACC). Duke scored its lone run in the eighth, but FSU answered right back with an insurance run in the bottom half.<\/p>\n

The Friday night victory came in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,700 that included the Marching Chiefs.

\n\u00a0

\nTo improve to 6-1 on the season, one win shy of tying his career high, Mendes allowed just four hits with one walk. He struck out multiple batters in four innings, including three punch-outs in the third. On two occasions an inning-ending strikeout left a runner on third. Mendes posted double-digit strikeouts for the third time in his last four outings, and did not allow a run for the fourth time in his seven starts in 2026. He threw a season-high 104 pitches, one short of matching his career high.

\n\u00a0

\nJunior right-handed reliever John Abraham<\/a> earned his third save of the year. In 2.1 innings in relief of Mendes, he allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

\n\u00a0

\nJunior left fielder Chase Williams<\/a> and freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr.<\/a> had a hit and an RBI, as both were responsible for driving in Florida State’s two runs in the sixth.

\n\u00a0

\nThe Seminoles’ three runs came on four hits with eight runners left on. The Blue Devils scored a run on seven hits with six runners stranded. Both teams committed one error.

\n\u00a0

\nFSU improved to 85-30 all-time against Duke and 47-11 at home.

\n\u00a0

\nMendes struck out two in each of the first two innings. He fanned three in the third, as Duke got its first hit, a two-out triple.

\n\u00a0

\nFlorida State put two on in the second, including a leadoff double, and left two on in the third.

\n\u00a0

\nBack-to-back strikeouts ended the fifth for Mendes after a leadoff double, and a pick-off, caught stealing helped him work around two singles and a hit batter in the sixth.

\n\u00a0

\nThe Seminoles scored the game’s first runs in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead. Sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey<\/a> led off the inning with a double off the wall in right and scored on a single up the middle by Paulino. With two outs and a runner on second, Williams notched a single up the middle of his own to double the advantage.

\n\u00a0

\nAbraham relieved Mendes With a runner on and two outs in the seventh and got a strikeout to end the threat. Before Mendes departed, a nice throw to get the runner at second was made by freshman right fielder John Stuetzer<\/a> on a fielder’s choice.

\n\u00a0

\nDuke scored a run in the eighth to make it 2-1, but a 5-3-5 double play ended the inning to limit the damage. After back-to-back one-out doubles and a strikeout, the grounder to freshman third baseman Will Bavaro<\/a> started the double play, and Bailey’s throw back to Bavaro ended it with a nice tag to get the sliding runner.

\n\u00a0

\nFSU responded with an insurance run in the bottom half to extend the lead back to two, at 3-1. Two walks and a sacrifice bunt had runners at second and third, and with two outs, a wild pitch brought in sophomore catcher Hunter Carns<\/a>.

\n\u00a0

\nAbraham struck out two in the ninth to end it, leaving a runner at third with the tying run at the plate.

\n\u00a0

\nThe series continues with a nationally-televised contest on ACC Network on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. The finale is on Sunday at 1 p.m.

\n\u00a0

\nSaturday’s game is sold out, but fans can purchase tickets on SeatGeek<\/a>. Tickets are available for Sunday’s game at Seminoles.com\/Tickets<\/a> or by calling the FSU ticket office at 850-644-1830. Tickets remain for FSU students, and admission is free with their FSUID, with the student entrance at the right field gate at Haggard Plaza. All gates at Dick Howser Stadium will open 60 minutes prior to first pitch for every game in 2026.

\n\u00a0

\nEach regular-season Saturday home game is Military Saturday Presented by VyStar, with military recognitions and the playing of God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch. Every Sunday regular-season home game is Sunday Funday, where Kids Club members and youth wearing their little league jerseys will be admitted free, and kids 12 and under will be allowed to run the bases postgame.

\n\u00a0

\nSaturday’s game is on ACC Network<\/a>, with Daron Vaught and Eduardo Perez on the call. Sunday will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra<\/a>, accessible through your television provider or a subscription to ESPN+. Fans can listen to every game via the Seminole Sports Network on WFLA 100.7 FM. Each game also is available around the world on the Seminoles Unconquered App<\/a> and Seminoles.com<\/a>. Live stats are at FSU.Statbroadcast.com<\/a> (Saturday<\/a> | Sunday<\/a>). Direct links to watch, listen and follow along can be found on the schedule page at Seminoles.com\/Baseball<\/a>. News, notes and behind-the-scenes updates all weekend are available by following and connecting with the team on social media on Twitter\/X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> (@FSUBaseball) and Instagram<\/a> (@NoleBaseball).

\n\u00a0

\nFor more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter\/X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram<\/a> (@NoleBaseball).

\n\u00a0<\/p>\n