The No. 8 Florida State Seminoles entered their showdown with the Miami Hurricanes knowing that a win would lock in a top‑four seed for the ACC Tournament and boost their NCAA Tournament prospects. The stakes were high, and the atmosphere at Dick Howser Stadium reflected that intensity.
Early in the game, Hunter Carns opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning, giving FSU a modest lead. Miami answered in the seventh with a two‑run burst that put them up 6‑1, but the Seminoles were not done.
A pair of back‑to‑back homers from Chris Knier and Brayden Dowd in the eighth cut the deficit and shifted momentum. The rally continued when Eli Putnam tied the game in the ninth with a two‑run shot to deep left field, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The game stretched into extra innings, still deadlocked at 6‑6. Ace Wes Mendes had thrown six innings allowing four runs, but the bullpen was called upon as Miami made a pitching change, bringing in Nathan Cmeyla with a runner on first and two outs.
Miami’s Chase Williams was thrown out trying to steal third, and Chris Knier retired the side in order, striking out two. The defensive heroics kept the score tied as both teams searched for a breakthrough.
Fans began chanting "Who is Wes Mendes?" after his dominant performance, a testament to the electric energy in the ballpark. The live broadcast on ESPN+ captured every pitch, with the game scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET.
Extra Innings Drama
The extra‑inning stretch featured a tense duel between the remaining pitchers, with both sides making strategic adjustments. The Seminoles’ defense held firm, and the offense continued to look for that decisive hit.
As the night wore on, the outcome remained uncertain, but the Seminoles’ resilience kept their ACC aspirations alive, setting the stage for a potential top‑four finish.