Florida State baseball: Seminoles set to host Pittsburgh Panthers to open ACC play

Florida State baseball has a big weekend on tap, as it opens ACC play under first-year head coach Link Jarrett Dick Howser Stadium.

The Seminoles (9-3) are hosting Pittsburgh (7-6) − coached by former FSU pitcher and assistant coach Mike Bell - for a three-game set at Dick Howser Stadium for a three-game series.

FSU will honor Heisman winner Jameis Winston, along with former football stars Jalen Ramsey, Derwin James, Cam Akers, Keir Thomas and Jashaun Corbin for Legacy Weekend" during Friday's game.

Former Seminole baseball and former San Francisco Giant star Buster Posey will see his No. 8 jersey retired on Saturday.

The first pitch for the opener three-game series with the Panthers is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday. Saturday's game is scheduled for 3 p.m., with a 2:30 p.m. ceremony to honor Posey. The series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.

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FSU started the season 6-0, including a series victory over then-No. 8 TCU, but lost three of four, including a home series against Florida Gulf Coast.

The Seminoles defeated the Eagles to salvage the series finale Sunday and are coming off a 10-1 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday.

They slipped to No. 21 in the D1 Baseball Rankings after reaching No. 16 last week.

Florida State went 15-15 last season in conference play, finishing in fourth place in the Atlantic Division. The Seminoles were pegged to finish third in the Atlantic by ACC coaches in the preseason.

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Key Panthers

Pittsburgh enters the series having lost three of its last five games, including a 2-1 loss to South Florida in Tampa on Tuesday.

Three Panthers' are hitting with a batting average of at least .300 on the season, led by Jack Anderson, who leads the team with a .365 average and 19 hits.

Noah Martinez is the power bat for the team, leading the way with five home runs, 22 RBI and 18 runs scored, to go along with a .326/.484/.761 batting slash line and a 1.245 OPS.

AJ Nessler (.313) is the other regular hitting over .300, while CJ Funk has provided four home runs.

On the mound, Holden Phelps leads the team with a 2.77 ERA in 13 innings. He may not be available for the series, coming off a seven-strikeout performance in a 5 ⅔ inning start against South Florida.

Erubiel Candelario (5.40 ERA, 13 ⅓ innings), Ethan Firoved (6.10, 10 ⅔), Kyle Mosley (7.50, 12) and Jack Sokol (7.50, 12) have also made starts for the Panthers.

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What FSU needs to do to win

Over the past four games, the Seminoles' starting pitchers have lasted no more than 2 ⅓ innings. FSU has been dependent on its bullpen, particularly the left-handed Wyatt Crowell and right-handed Conner Whittaker.

Crowell, a redshirt sophomore, owns a 2-0 record in four appearances with a save. He has struck out 23 and walked seven in 14 ⅔ inning. His shortest outing of the season was a 2 ⅔ inning performance against James Madison.

Whittaker, a redshirt freshman, is 2-0 on the season with a 4.02 ERA in four appearances. He has thrown at least 2 ⅔ innings in each of his outings.

The Seminoles would highly benefit if one of their starters lasted longer and gave Jarrett the option of using Crowell or Whittaker more than just once a weekend out of the bullpen.

Jackson Baumeister will start Friday, Crowell will start Saturday and Carson Montgomery will close out the weekend as starters this weekend.

Jamie Arnold, who has been a weekend starter, will slide into the bullpen in Crowell’s spot.

Montgomery, the most experienced starter, is likely the starter the Seminoles need the most to step up.

The defense improving behind the pitching would also be key.

Offensively, FSU has scored at least 10 runs in eight of the first 12 games. If it can keep putting up that kind of offense and see the pitching staff improve, the Seminoles will be set up for a big run in conference play.

Florida State vs. Pittsburgh

When: Friday, 6 p.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.; Sunday, 1:00 p.m.

Where: Dick Howser Stadium

TV/Radio: ACC Network Extra/100.7 FM

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU baseball: Seminoles open ACC play against Pittsburgh Panthers