Florida State University Athletics
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A four-run first inning helped lead the No. 6 Florida State baseball team to a 9-7 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday evening at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
FSU remains unbeaten on the year with a 13-0 record, one of five teams without a defeat in 2025. For the first time in program history, the Seminoles have started back-to-back seasons at 13-0 or better, with this year’s mark going along with a 19-0 start to the 2024 campaign. Florida State had two back-to-back years of 12-0 starts or better before the current two-year run eclipsed that, in 2007-08 and 2018-19.
In the second game of a two-game midweek, and five-game week, the Seminoles (13-0) scored nine runs on 10 hits with two errors. They held the Wildcats (6-7) to seven runs on 12 hits with no errors. FSU improved to 9-0 all-time against BC, all at home.
Junior center fielder Max Williams hit his team-high-tying fourth home run. He had a career-best five RBI and a career-high-tying four hits with two runs scored in five at-bats. He also made a fantastic catch in center field to round out the night.
Junior right fielder Gage Harrelson and junior shortstop Alex Lodise also both had hits, as Harrelson extended his hit streak to 13 consecutive games and Lodise’s reached 12 with a three-hit, one RBI day.
On the mound, redshirt freshman left-hander Payton Manca made his second collegiate appearance and first start. In 2.1 innings, he allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk. He earned the victory, his first. Sophomore righty Chris Knier got the final three outs and picked up his second save. He didn’t allow a hit with two strikeouts and two walks.
The Seminoles jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The scoring began with a two-RBI double by Williams, as he drove in Harrelson and Lodise. Still with no outs, junior designated hitter Jaxson West singled home Williams and junior third baseman Carter McCulley drove in redshirt senior Nathan Cmeyla with a one-out sacrifice fly.
Manca retired the side in order in the second, just as he had in the first. He allowed a run in the third on a one-out RBI single to make it 4-1. Sophomore right-hander John Abraham relieved Manca and got a double play groundout to end the inning and leave a runner on.
BC added two more runs in the second on back-to-back two-out home runs to cut the lead to one, at 4-3.
Florida State answered right back with a four-run bottom of the fourth to make it 8-3. Freshman first baseman Myles Bailey led off the inning with a double and scored on a single by Lodise. Williams then drilled a three-run home run to right. The 427-foot blast scored freshman left fielder BJ Gibson and Lodise.
The Wildcats got a run back in the top of the fifth on a two-out RBI single. Junior right-hander Maison Martinez relieved Abraham with two on and two outs and got a strikeout to end the threat and keep it an 8-4 game. Martinez then loaded the bases in the sixth but got a strikeout to end the inning and prevent any runs from scoring.
FSU also loaded the bases in the sixth, but the Seminoles were able to convert with a bases-loaded walk with two outs, as junior second baseman Drew Faurot got the free-pass RBI and plated Harrelson.
Martinez stranded two more in the seventh, again with a strikeout to end it. He capped his 3.1-inning night with a perfect eighth inning. Martinez did not allow a run on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks in his appearance.
In the ninth, Bethune-Cookman led off the inning with a double, single and three-run home run to cut the Florida State lead to two, at 9-7. Sophomore righty Chris Knier then came in and got the final three outs, with a strikeout looking on an 0-2 pitch to finish the win with runners on first and second.
Florida State will play its fourth and final non-conference series against Lipscomb from March 7-9 at Dick Howser Stadium. The three-game set begins on Friday, March 7, at 6 p.m. ET, followed by game two on Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday, March 9, at 1 p.m.
For 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 and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
FSU remains unbeaten on the year with a 13-0 record, one of five teams without a defeat in 2025. For the first time in program history, the Seminoles have started back-to-back seasons at 13-0 or better, with this year’s mark going along with a 19-0 start to the 2024 campaign. Florida State had two back-to-back years of 12-0 starts or better before the current two-year run eclipsed that, in 2007-08 and 2018-19.
In the second game of a two-game midweek, and five-game week, the Seminoles (13-0) scored nine runs on 10 hits with two errors. They held the Wildcats (6-7) to seven runs on 12 hits with no errors. FSU improved to 9-0 all-time against BC, all at home.
Junior center fielder Max Williams hit his team-high-tying fourth home run. He had a career-best five RBI and a career-high-tying four hits with two runs scored in five at-bats. He also made a fantastic catch in center field to round out the night.
Junior right fielder Gage Harrelson and junior shortstop Alex Lodise also both had hits, as Harrelson extended his hit streak to 13 consecutive games and Lodise’s reached 12 with a three-hit, one RBI day.
On the mound, redshirt freshman left-hander Payton Manca made his second collegiate appearance and first start. In 2.1 innings, he allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk. He earned the victory, his first. Sophomore righty Chris Knier got the final three outs and picked up his second save. He didn’t allow a hit with two strikeouts and two walks.
The Seminoles jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The scoring began with a two-RBI double by Williams, as he drove in Harrelson and Lodise. Still with no outs, junior designated hitter Jaxson West singled home Williams and junior third baseman Carter McCulley drove in redshirt senior Nathan Cmeyla with a one-out sacrifice fly.
Manca retired the side in order in the second, just as he had in the first. He allowed a run in the third on a one-out RBI single to make it 4-1. Sophomore right-hander John Abraham relieved Manca and got a double play groundout to end the inning and leave a runner on.
BC added two more runs in the second on back-to-back two-out home runs to cut the lead to one, at 4-3.
Florida State answered right back with a four-run bottom of the fourth to make it 8-3. Freshman first baseman Myles Bailey led off the inning with a double and scored on a single by Lodise. Williams then drilled a three-run home run to right. The 427-foot blast scored freshman left fielder BJ Gibson and Lodise.
The Wildcats got a run back in the top of the fifth on a two-out RBI single. Junior right-hander Maison Martinez relieved Abraham with two on and two outs and got a strikeout to end the threat and keep it an 8-4 game. Martinez then loaded the bases in the sixth but got a strikeout to end the inning and prevent any runs from scoring.
FSU also loaded the bases in the sixth, but the Seminoles were able to convert with a bases-loaded walk with two outs, as junior second baseman Drew Faurot got the free-pass RBI and plated Harrelson.
Martinez stranded two more in the seventh, again with a strikeout to end it. He capped his 3.1-inning night with a perfect eighth inning. Martinez did not allow a run on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks in his appearance.
In the ninth, Bethune-Cookman led off the inning with a double, single and three-run home run to cut the Florida State lead to two, at 9-7. Sophomore righty Chris Knier then came in and got the final three outs, with a strikeout looking on an 0-2 pitch to finish the win with runners on first and second.
Florida State will play its fourth and final non-conference series against Lipscomb from March 7-9 at Dick Howser Stadium. The three-game set begins on Friday, March 7, at 6 p.m. ET, followed by game two on Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday, March 9, at 1 p.m.
For 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 and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
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