FGCU/#16 FSU PREVIEW

Tallahassee, FL- FGCU (8-1) heads on the road to face #16 FSU (7-1), for a three game series, starting Friday night, from Dick Howser Stadium.

Series Schedule:

Friday: 5 PM

Saturday: 3 PM

Sunday: 1 PM

Stats:

Hitting (FGCU):

.350/1.055 OPS/300 AB/80 R/105 H/19 2B/3 3B/16 HR/75 RBI/.593 SLG%/55 SO/44 BB/.462 OB%

Hitting (#16 FSU):

.299/.916 OPS/294 AB/74 R/86 H/23 2B/6 3B/10 HR/66 RBI/.520 SLG%/74 SO/36 BB/.396 OB%

Pitching (FGCU):

8-1/4.03 ERA/1.26 WHIP/SHO/3 SV/76.0 IP/66 H/41 R (34 ER)/72 K/30 BB/10 2B/3B/5 HR/284 AB/.232 BAA

Pitching (#16 FSU):

7-1/3.24 ERA/1.33 WHIP/2 SV/75.0 IP/64 H/38 R (27 ER)/82 K/36 BB/17 2B/3 HR/274 AB/.234 BAA

Hitters To Watch For (FGCU):

6’3 SR 1B Joe Kinker

.500/1.341 WHIP/36 AB/12 R/18 H/5 2B/2 HR/12 RBI/.806 SLG%/7 SO/4 BB/.535 OB%

6’0 SO INF Edrick Felix

.457/1.398 WHIP/35 AB/11 R/16 H/3 2B/4 HR/11 RBI/.886 SLG%/7 SO/4 BB/.512 OB%

5’11 SR C/INF Alejandro Rodriguez

.406/1.162 WHIP/32 AB/7 R/13 H/2 2B/3B/HR/13 RBI/.625 SLG%/2 SO/7 BB/.537 OB%

Hitters To Watch For (#16 FSU):

6’1 JR INF Jordan Carrion

.424/1.141 OPS/33 AB/7 R/14 H/5 2B/2 3B/14 RBI/.697 SLG%/8 SO/2 BB/.444 OB%

5’11 FR OF DeAmez Ross

.423/.983 OPS/26 AB/10 R/11 H/2 2B/4 RBI/.500 SLG%/3 SO/3 BB/.483 OB%

6’1 R-SR C Colton Vincent

.385/1.121 OPS/26 AB/7 R/10 H/4 2B/HR/3 RBI/.654 SLG%/7 SO/2 BB/.467 OB%

Overview:

FGCU faces off with #16 FSU, for the first time this season Friday night, as part of a three game series. The Eagles lost to the Noles last season, 10-4, from Dick Howser Stadium in their only meeting that year. #16 FSU is led offensively by Jordan Carrion, who is batting .424 with 14 RBI’s on the season. SO RHP Conner Whitaker, is 2-0, with a 2.92 ERA, this season for the Noles. Last season, he was one of the best relievers in the country, with a 2-2 record, and a 2.48 ERA, in 22 appearances. Another pitcher to keep an eye would be 6’0 JR LHP Wyatt Crowell, who was the top arm out of the bullpen last season for the team, after finishing with a 6-1 record, 2.12 ERA, and striking out 72 batters, in 51.0 innings. This season, he has a 1-0 record, with a 1.00 ERA, and one save.

The Eagles offense continues to carry this team, and at 8-1, this ties the best start in program history. Joe Kinker (.500, 2 HR, and 12 RBI’s), Edrick Felix (.457, 4 HR, and 11 RBI’s), and Alejandro Rodriguez (.406, HR, and 13 RBI’s) have carried the offense all season, and have been vital for the team to hold an 8-0 home record. Pitchingwise, Jason Woodward (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 15 K’s) has been the ace of this staff, and Mason Miller has been extremely dominant (1-0, 1.86 ERA, 17 K’s) for the Eagles, and when you have the hitters dialed in, and a strong pitching staff like Coach Tollett has, it’s been an exciting nine game stretch to begin the 2023 season. Winning this series vs #16 FSU this weekend would be a major step in showing the rest of the country how great this Eagles team really is. Should be a fun series from Tallahassee this weekend!