News Summary
The Florida State University baseball team, ranked as the No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, is set to begin their tournament journey against fourth seed Bethune-Cookman. With a strong season record of 38-14, FSU aims to leverage their home game advantage in front of a supportive crowd. The match will feature pitcher Joey Volini starting for FSU, while Bethune-Cookman’s Joel Core takes the mound. This game is crucial for both teams as they seek to advance in the tournament, given FSU’s historic dominance against Bethune-Cookman.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida – Florida State University (FSU) baseball team, the No. 9 national seed in the NCAA Tournament, is set to open their tournament play today against fourth seed Bethune-Cookman. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. ET at Dick Howser Stadium and will be broadcast live on the ACC Network.
FSU enters this matchup with a strong season record of 38-14 and a conference mark of 17-10 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). They will face a competitive Bethune-Cookman team, which has achieved a record of 37-21 and dominated the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) with a 24-5 performance.
In their prior meeting this season, FSU bested Bethune-Cookman with a 9-7 victory, despite being out-hit 12-10. The Seminoles are particularly focused on winning this first game of the regional, a strategy that is deemed crucial for advancing in the tournament.
In a strategic shift, FSU will start Joey Volini on the mound rather than their ace, Jamie Arnold, who is expected to pitch later in the tournament. Volini has posted a season earned run average (ERA) of 3.59, recording 95 strikeouts over 77.2 innings pitched, and he aims to build on a successful relief outing against North Carolina.
This approach is reminiscent of last season’s tournament initiation, when FSU also opted to start a pitcher other than Arnold. That decision paid off, as they secured a victory over Stetson in regional play.
On the other hand, Bethune-Cookman’s pitching will be led by sophomore right-hander Joel Core, who has an ERA of 4.81. Notably, Core has not yet faced any NCAA tournament team in the 2025 season, adding an unpredictable element to the matchup.
The winner of the Tallahassee Regional will advance to compete against the champion of the Corvallis Regional, which is being hosted by No. 8 Oregon State. FSU will be looking to turn the tide after their recent 7-5 loss to North Carolina in the ACC tournament, a defeat that has potentially heightened their motivation to perform well in this NCAA tournament opening game.
This game is significant not just for the stakes involved but also for FSU’s historical performance against Bethune-Cookman. The Seminoles are on a 9-0 all-time series lead against them, including a flawless 5-0 record in postseason encounters, which may bolster their confidence going into today’s game.
Throughout this season, FSU has exhibited a strong home game performance, boasting a record of 24-7 at Dick Howser Stadium, providing them with a familiar and supportive environment as they aim for victory.
In addition to the live broadcast on the ACC Network, fans can look forward to receiving live updates and coverage of the game through various sports platforms, ensuring that the excitement of this NCAA Tournament matchup is shared among all supporters and followers of FSU baseball.
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Additional Resources
- Tomahawk Nation: FSU Baseball vs. Bethune-Cookman Game Thread
- Tallahassee.com: FSU Baseball Live Score vs. Bethune-Cookman
- FSU Wire: FSU Baseball vs. Bethune-Cookman Live Coverage
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Florida State University Baseball
- Google Search: FSU Baseball NCAA Tournament
