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Bats, bullpen lift FSU Baseball to Regional-opening win over Bethune-Cookman

On3 imageby: Ira Schoffel05/31/25iraschoffel
On3 image
FSU's Myles Bailey comes home after a two-run home run Friday against Bethune-Cookman. (Courtesy of Florida State Sports Information)

FSU baseball coach Link Jarrett’s concerns about the opening day of the NCAA Tallahassee Regional going well into the night were well-founded. But it won’t be the Seminoles’ problem.

Jarrett chose to take the early game for FSU’s opener with Bethune-Cookman, and after coming back from a weather delay that lasted over two hours, the Seminoles rolled to a 6-2 victory.

With the win, FSU moves on to the winners’ bracket against the winner of Friday’s late game between No. 2 seed Northeastern and No. 3 seed Mississippi State. That game was scheduled to begin around 9:05 p.m.

The loser will have to play an elimination game against Bethune-Cookman in the early game on Saturday. That quick turnaround was the primary reason why Jarrett opted to play the mid-afternoon contest on Friday as opposed to the scheduled prime-time slot.

As it turned out, it probably wouldn’t have mattered.

FSU opened a 2-0 lead early Friday when Max Williams and Chase Williams blasted solo home runs in the first two innings. Bethune-Cookman tied it at 2-2 in the top of the third before lightning and rain forced the game to pause for 2 hours and 19 minutes.

When play resumed, the Seminoles pounced on Bethune-Cookman starter Joel Core for three more runs in the bottom of the third, with the big hit being a towering two-run blast from FSU first baseman Myles Bailey. Core ended up staying in the game despite the delay and pitching seven innings.

He gave up six runs (all earned) on six hits and five walks; he also struck out seven.

*ALSO SEE: Seminoles’ much-maligned bullpen comes through big in 6-2 win

FSU starter Joey Volini did not stay in the game after the delay, but the Seminoles’ bullpen was more than up for the challenge. Peyton Prescott struck out four while allowing two hits in 2 2/3 scoreless innings, Chris Knier allowed just one hit in 2 1/3, and John Abraham finished it off with a scoreless ninth.

For the game, the bullpen pitched six shutout innings.

With the win, FSU improves to 39-14. Bethune-Cookman falls to 37-22.

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