FSU baseball begins critical final week of regular season vs. Florida Gators

Entering the final week of the regular season, there's a lot on the line for the Florida State baseball team.

With the No. 21 Seminoles' (32-18, 15-12 in ACC) series victory over then-No. 5 Miami over the weekend, FSU is very much alive in the conversation to host an NCAA Regional. That used to be an almost-annual tradition at FSU, but hasn't happened since 2018.

The Seminoles currently sit at No. 17 in the RPI and have 15 wins against quadrant one opponents this season, the second most nationally behind only No. 1 Tennessee (17).

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They have a chance to snag as many as four more Q1 wins this week to close out the regular season. FSU plays its third and final regular-season game against Florida Tuesday at 7 p.m. (SEC Network) in Gainesville and then closes out the regular season with a three-game series at North Carolina starting on Thursday.

Entering the week, UF is No. 16 in the RPI while UNC is No. 23, meaning the Seminoles have a chance to finish the regular season with the most Q1 wins in the country.

"We don't (have that conversation). They know so there's no sense in telling them, 'Hey, this is how it works.' But it is big..." FSU head coach Mike Martin Jr. responded Sunday when asked about talking to his team about what's on the line this week.

"We've got the Gators, we've got Carolina, still high RPI games and the (ACC) tournament. It's right in front of us. There's a very good chance we're going to see these great fans again."

Tuesday's matchup against the Gators in Gainesville was originally scheduled to be the first game of the season between the two teams back on March 15. However, it was postponed to the final week of the regular season due to inclement weather, making it the final game of the season series.

Rivalry big, but a chance at hosting NCAA regional bigger for Seminoles

It will serve as the rubber match of the first three-game series between the in-state foes since 2019 after UF won 5-4 in Jacksonville on March 29 and FSU won 5-0 at home on April 12.

Those rivalry stakes are definitely important to the members of the FSU team entering Tuesday's game. But they may be secondary to the importance a win at UF could mean for the Seminoles' hosting chances.

Martin isn't worried about another short turnaround and going from facing off against one rival to another in quick succession.

"They've had so many of these (quick turnarounds) over this year and last year that it's old hat to them," Martin said.

"They'll take advantage of their off day (Monday), get their bodies rejuvenated, get treated, work out and be ready to go, take a road trip down there and hopefully play solid baseball."

FSU knows how important a strong finish and playing its way into hosting a regional would be for its postseason chances.

Playing in front of unrestricted crowds for home games once again this season, Dick Howser Stadium has been a very friendly place for the Seminoles to play this season.

FSU closed out its regular season home schedule with a 26-8 record in games at Howser this season. On the other hand, FSU is 6-9 in true road games this season.

Another cap in the Seminoles' cap come postseason host consideration time is their consistency in weekend series.

With the series win over the Hurricanes, FSU has won 10 of its 13 weekend series this season. That is definitely something that the committee values over midweek games and could help the Seminoles host for the first time in four years next month.

"It is a credit to our pitching. We've always got a chance with the guys that we can run out there," Martin said.

"Highs and lows, we've stunk defensively, we've stunk hitting, we've stunk pitching. But that pitching that we've got, it hasn't stunk as much so we're always going to be in ballgames. Sure, we've still walked too many people, plunked too many people, but I wouldn't trade that pitching staff for anybody's."

No. 21 Florida State at Florida

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Condron Family Ballpark, Gainesville, Fla.

TV/Radio: SEC Network/100.7 FM

Reach Curt Weiler at cweiler@tallahassee.com or follow him on Twitter @CurtMWeiler.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU baseball looks to build on Miami series with key game vs. UF