SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 4 Florida State baseball team completed a doubleheader sweep with a 17-9 victory at Notre Dame in the day’s second game on Sunday afternoon in South Bend, Indiana.
 
The Seminoles (23-4, 7-2 ACC) secured their third series win in ACC play and have won all seven series to begin the 2025 campaign. Sunday afternoon’s win was aided by five home runs from the FSU offense, including the first career long ball for redshirt freshman designated hitter James Hankerson Jr. FSU scored five in the first, seven in the second and two in the third to highlight the offensive showing.
 
Along with his first home run, Hankerson Jr. had two hits, six RBI and three runs scored, all collegiate bests. He entered the day with one career hit in five at-bats. A trio of juniors also homered, as shortstop Alex Lodise hit two and third baseman Carter McCulley and center fielder Max Williams hit one in the win.
 
Lodise’s homers were part of a three-hit, two-RBI day with four runs scored and Williams also had three hits, two RBI and added three runs. McCulley notched two RBI. Williams leads the team with 12 home runs and Lodise is now right behind him with 11. McCulley joined Hankerson Jr. with his first career home run.
 
Sophomore right-handed reliever Chris Knier earned his first career win. He did not allow a run on two hits with a strikeout and a walk in 1.2 innings. Sophomore left-handed starter Wes Mendes gave up three runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
 
FSU scored 17 runs on 18 hits with two errors. The Fighting Irish (14-11, 2-10 ACC) scored nine runs on 12 hits with one error.
 
The Seminoles jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Williams got it started with a two-run home run to right. Then, with two outs, freshman catcher Hunter Carns doubled in the inning’s third run before Hankerson Jr. singled up the middle to score two more for his first career RBIs and second hit.
 
FSU added seven more in the second, with all but one coming with two outs to make it a 12-0 game. Lodise’s solo home run to right opened the scoring. With two on and two outs, junior second baseman Drew Faurot singled home one as part of a two-hit afternoon. A walk loaded the bases for Hankerson Jr. to clear the bases with a double down the left-field line. McCulley capped the inning with his first career home run to left.
 
Mendes stranded one runner in the first and left one on second in the second.
 
The Seminoles added two more unearned runs in the third. The first came on a double play groundout, followed by a wild pitch to bring home Williams.
 
Notre Dame scored three in the third, on back-to-back RBI singles and a bases-loaded walk, all with one out. A double play ended the threat.
 
Hankerson Jr.’s first career home run made it 15-3 in the fourth and a sac fly by redshirt freshman Brody DeLamielleure plated Williams in the fifth.
 
Redshirt senior Joe Charles, who got the last out of the fourth, pitched a scoreless fifth. The Fighting Irish scored five runs in the sixth on an RBI triple, single, homer and single that made it 16-8. A fielder’s choice groundout in the seventh made it a 16-9 ballgame.
 
Lodise’s second home run of the day added an insurance run with two outs in the ninth to make it 17-9.
 
Redshirt freshman left-hander Payton Manca come on in the ninth and got the final two outs to seal the win.
 
The Seminoles return home for the first time in two weeks with a midweek matchup against Jacksonville on April 1 at 6 p.m. ET. Tickets are available at Seminoles.com/Tickets or by calling the FSU ticket office at 850-644-1830. Admission is free for all FSU students with their I.D.
 
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).