SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Seminoles.com) — No. 13 Florida State won its fourth road series against a ranked team, splitting Saturday’s doubleheader at No. 2 Notre Dame after beating the Irish Friday night. The Seminoles are now 25-17 and 17-13 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while Notre Dame falls to 25-10 overall and 22-10 in the ACC.
Notre Dame won the first game Saturday, 5-3, before FSU won the nightcap, 7-1.
Elijah Cabell had three hits Saturday, extending his hitting streak to eight games. Nico Baldor, who made his first start of the season in the second game Saturday, reached base in all five plate appearances with three doubles, four runs batted in, a walk and a hit by pitch.
Conor Grady earned his fifth win of the season, allowing just three hits over five innings with six strikeouts.
For Notre Dame, who leads the ACC standings, it was their first series loss of the season. The Seminoles had previously beaten No. 18 Virginia Tech, No. 6 Miami and No. 17 Georgia Tech away from Tallahassee this season.
FSU 7, Notre Dame 1Conor Grady (5-2) allowed just three hits and two walks in five innings, while striking out six, as FSU beat the Irish 7-1 in game two Saturday. Nico Baldor was 3-for-3 with three doubles in his first start of the season, and Elijah Cabell had a pair of hits to push his average to .288 and extend his hitting streak to eight games.
The Seminoles had a 6-0 lead before Notre Dame got on the board in the seventh inning.
Robby Martin walked and Baldor was hit by a pitch in the second inning before Nander De Sedas gave FSU a 1-0 lead with an RBI double.
In the fourth inning, Martin again led off with a walk and was joined on the bases when Dylan Simmons walked. Baldor extended FSU’s lead to 3-0 with a two-run double in the fourth inning. A patient Seminole lineup was rewarded in the sixth inning when Tyler Martin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Logan Lacey followed with a walk for two more runs.
Baldor gave FSU a 6-0 lead in the seventh inning with his second double of the day. He entered the day with just one hit on the season.
Dylan Simmons started at DH for the Noles and singled in the ninth inning. Isaiah Perry pinch-ran for Simmons and scored on Baldor’s third RBI double of the game. Baldor is the first Seminole since Quincy Nieporte in 2017 at Louisville with three doubles in a game.
Davis Hare, Wyatt Crowell and Hunter Perdue combined to allow just one run over the final four innings.
Alex Rao fell to 1-1 for the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame 5, FSU 3The Fighting Irish evened the weekend series, winning Saturday’s first game 5-3 behind a strong pitching performance from John Bertrand (6-1). All three of Florida State’s runs came over the final two innings.
Tyler Martin led the Seminoles with four hits, including a two-run single in the ninth inning. Mat Nelson reached base three times and his RBI double in the eighth inning scored Martin and got the Seminoles on the board.
Bryce Hubbart (5-4) allowed a pair of runs in five innings, with five strikeouts. Notre Dame scored on a sacrifice fly in the first inning and Jack Brannigan, who earned the save, hit a three-run home run off Chase Haney in the sixth inning for a 4-0 lead. Niko Kavadas added an RBI single seventh inning before FSU scored three late runs.
In the fifth inning, Notre Dame had runners on second and third with one out and a 1-0 lead. Ryan Cole attempted the suicide squeeze bunt, but missed and Nelson was able to tag the runner attempting to score from third and throw to Jackson Greene at second base for the inning-ending double play. Nelson has now thrown out 15 of 28 attempted base stealers this season.
Senior Chase Haney made his 135th career pitching appearance, one shy of tying the school record.
For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, or keep up with the team on social media through Twitter (@FSUBaseball), Facebook (/FSUBaseball), and Instagram (@NoleBaseball).
