Seminole Sunday Sauce — March 3, 2024: FSU Baseball Off to Best Start in Five Years
More than two weeks into the regular season and Florida State baseball remains unblemished. The Seminoles are 9-0 on the young season, marking their best start since 2019.
Last Sunday, FSU completed the 3-game sweep of Western Carolina with a 20-7 rout. James Tibbs and Drew Faurot each finished with three hits and combined for 10 RBIs. Max Williams scored three times in the victory.
Big offensive efforts would be a theme throughout the week. Against South Florida on Tuesday night, FSU seized control early with a 5-run first inning in a 12-4 victory. Cam Smith finished 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. Tibbs homered again as he and Jaxson West each finished with three RBIs in the win.
FSU’s Friday contest in Greenville, S.C. was postponed, but the Seminoles opened the First Pitch Invitational on Saturday with a pair of victories. FSU began the day with an 11-2 win over Michigan State. Jamie Arnold threw six shutout innings while McGwire Holbrook and Daniel Cantu each had three hits. Smith and Jaime Ferrer each homered in the win.
The most resistance that FSU felt all week came on Saturday night in a 13-7 win over Illinois in Greenville. FSU led 7-0 early before the Fighting Illini answered with seven straight runs to draw even. The Seminoles went ahead for good with four runs in the seventh with West’s 3-run double highlighting the frame.
Tibbs homered again to finish 4-for-6 with four RBIs. Smith went 3-for-6 with three RBIs.
The hot start is the best for the Seminoles since a 12-0 beginning to the 2019 season. FSU is currently averaging just shy of 12 runs per game.
FSU will wrap up the First Pitching Invitational on Sunday against Western Michigan. The Seminoles will play two midweek home games against Florida Gulf Coast before remaining at Dick Howser Stadium to begin a 3-game set with New Orleans on Friday.
FOOTBALL
Record: 13-1
Ranking: No. 6 AP Poll; No. 6 USA Today Coaches Poll
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2025 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 15 nationally, second in ACC (4 total commitments)
Wrap-up: Several FSU players had stellar efforts at the NFL Combine.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 15-14 (9-9 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (1-1), beat NC State on Tuesday, 90-83; lost at Georgia Tech on Saturday, 85-76
Upcoming: at Pittsburgh (Tuesday); vs, Miami (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 88 nationally, 15th in ACC (1 total commitment)
Wrap-up: FSU will need to win one of its next two games to have a winning regular season.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 16 CSCAA; women N/A
Past Week: Participated in Auburn Last Chance on Friday and Saturday
Upcoming: CSCAA National Invite (Thursday-Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: Select FSU athletes will have a few more events before the NCAA Championships later this month.
Women’s Basketball
Record: 20-9 (11-6 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-1), lost at Louisville on Thursday, 70-55
Upcoming: vs. Clemson (Sunday); ACC Tournament (TBA)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU won’t have a double-bye in the ACC Tournament but will look to finish the regular season strong on Sunday.
Men’s Tennis
Record: 10-2 (2-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 17 ITA
Past Week: (2-0), beat South Alabama on Sunday, 6-1; beat Louisville on Friday, 4-2
Upcoming: at Notre Dame (Sunday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU remained perfect in ACC play with a solid road win at Louisville.
Women’s Tennis
Record: 5-4 (1-1 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (1-0), beat Duke on Sunday, 6-1
Upcoming: vs. Mercer (Sunday); vs. Florida A&M (Sunday)
Recognitions: Ellie Schoppe (ACC Player of the Week)
Wrap-up: FSU picked up its most impressive win of the young season on Sunday, handling a top-15 Duke team.
Track and Field
Ranking: Men No. 20 USTFCCCA, No. 2 South Region; women No. 7 South Region
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: NCAA Indoor Championships (Friday and Saturday)
Recognitions: Jeremiah Davis (ACC Men’s Field MVP); Dajaz DeFrand (ACC Women’s MVP)
Wrap-up: FSU will try to make some noise at the NCAA Indoor Championships this week.
Men’s Golf
Ranking: No. 12 GCAA Coaches Poll
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: Cabo Collegiate (Sunday-Tuesday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU kicks off a busy March this week in Mexico.
Women’s Golf
Ranking: No. 20 WGCAA Coaches Poll
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: Valspar Augusta Invitational (Saturday-March 10)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU kicks off a busy March this coming weekend.
Softball
Record: 11-3
Ranking: No. 17 Softball America; No. 12 USA Softball; No. 13 D1Softball; No. 12 USA TODAY/NFCA Coaches Poll
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: vs. Jacksonville (Sunday, Tallahassee); vs. Purdue (Friday, FGCU Spring Break Classic); at Florida Gulf Coast (Friday, FGCU Spring Break Classic); vs. Purdue (Saturday, FGCU Spring Break Classic); vs. Western Michigan (Saturday, FGCU Spring Break Classic)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU’s travel plans were halted but the Seminoles have added three games.
Baseball
Record: 9-0
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (4-0), beat Western Carolina on Sunday, 20-7; beat South Florida on Tuesday, 12-4; beat Michigan State in First Pitch Invitational on Saturday, 11-2; defeated Illinois in First Pitch Invitational on Saturday, 13-7
Upcoming: vs. Western Michigan (Sunday, First Pitch Invitational); Florida Gulf Coast (Tuesday); vs. Florida Gulf Coast (Wednesday); vs. New Orleans (Friday); vs. New Orleans (Saturday)
Recognitions: Jamie Arnold, P (ACC Pitcher of the Week)
Wrap-up: Behind a red-hot offense, FSU is off to its best start in five years.
Beach Volleyball
Record: 6-0
Ranking: No. 4 AVCA
Past Week: (3-0), beat Tampa in Seminole Beach Bash on Saturday, 5-0; beat Georgia State in Seminole Beach Bash on Saturday, 4-1; beat Stetson in Seminole Beach Bash on Saturday, 5-0
Upcoming: vs. Louisiana-Monroe (Sunday, Seminole Beach Bash); vs. Houston Christian (Friday, Tampa Tournament); at Tampa (Friday, Tampa Tournament); vs. Coastal Carolina (Saturday, Tampa Tournament); vs. Florida Gulf Coast (Saturday, Tampa Tournament)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU remained perfect with three wins on Saturday in its first home event of the season.
*Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite rankings
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
