The 2026 ACC Baseball Tournament will feature the No. 3 seed Florida State Seminoles facing the No. 14 seed Pittsburgh Panthers in Thursday’s quarterfinal showdown at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Florida State entered the tournament with a 19‑11 record in conference play, a performance that secured the third seed and positioned the Seminoles for a top‑8 NCAA Tournament berth. anchoring the rotation is senior left‑hander Wes Mendes, the ACC Pitcher of the Year, who is slated to start for the Seminoles.
Pittsburgh arrived with an 11‑19 regular‑season slate, but the Panthers have turned the bracket on its head, pulling off two consecutive upsets to earn their quarterfinal spot and adding a compelling underdog narrative to the matchup.
Weather Delay Shifts Start Time
The game was originally scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET start, but lightning in the vicinity forced a delay, pushing the first pitch back to 5 p.m. ET. The Seminoles will wear their home pinstripes as the designated home team at Truist Field.
Broadcast coverage will be provided nationally on the ACC Network, with a live stream on ESPN+. In the booth, veteran play‑by‑play announcer Mike Ferrin will be joined by analyst Gabby Sanchez, while sideline reporter Taylor McGregor will deliver on‑field updates from Charlotte.
Beyond the pitching duel and the Panthers’ surprise run, the contest also highlights contrasting road performances. The Seminoles are 11‑12 in road and neutral games this season, whereas the Panthers stand at 16‑13 in similar settings, promising a tightly contested battle.