FSU baseball's offense flashes potential in JMU series

Seminoles outscored Dukes 21-6 in weather-shortened opening weekend series

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Florida State baseball took care of business during the opening weekend of the 2026 college baseball season, going 2-0 against James Madison in a weather-shortened series. The Seminoles' offense, led by the top four batters in the lineup, flashed its potential, while the bullpen provided strong relief work.

Why it matters

The opening weekend series against James Madison gave Florida State an opportunity to showcase its offensive firepower and bullpen depth as the team looks to build momentum heading into a week on the road. The Seminoles' performance highlighted areas of strength and potential areas for improvement as the season progresses.

The details

The Seminoles' top four batters - Brayden Dowd, Noah Sheffield, Myles Bailey, and Cal Fisher - combined to go 12-for-14 with 11 RBIs and 11 runs scored in the series-opening 16-5 win. Bailey set the tone with a first-pitch home run in the first game, while Dowd hit a three-run blast and Brody DeLamielleure homered in each game. The bottom half of the order, however, struggled to make an impact at the plate. On the mound, Wes Mendes had a strong start, and the bullpen, led by USC transfer Brodie Purcell, provided solid relief work, combining for nine strikeouts over 5.1 innings in the second game.

  • The series opener was played on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • The second game of the series was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • The series finale, scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2026, was canceled due to severe weather in the Tallahassee area.

The players

Link Jarrett

The fourth-year head coach of the Florida State Seminoles baseball team.

Brayden Dowd

A key member of the Seminoles' lineup, hitting a three-run home run in the series-opening win.

Noah Sheffield

The Seminoles' designated hitter, who had a strong performance at the plate, going 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs in the second game.

Myles Bailey

The Seminoles' leadoff hitter, who set the tone for the weekend with a first-pitch home run in the series opener.

Brodie Purcell

A USC transfer who provided strong relief work for the Seminoles, earning a save in the series opener.

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What they’re saying

“It's been two games, and this is nowhere near the finished product for the Seminoles. With that said, FSU flashed its potential with its lineup, particularly the top four of the order.”

— Liam Rooney, Author (tallahassee.com)

“Arguably, the biggest story of the weekend for the Seminoles was Sheffield and his big weekend at the plate.”

— Liam Rooney, Author (tallahassee.com)

What’s next

The Seminoles will hit the road for a matchup against Jacksonville next weekend, as they look to build on their strong start to the season.

The takeaway

Florida State's offense showed its potential in the opening series, with the top of the lineup leading the way. However, the Seminoles still have room for improvement, particularly in the bottom half of the order. The bullpen's solid performance was also a positive sign as the team prepares for the challenges ahead.