FSU Baseball Routs Notre Dame 11-0 Behind 3-Run Homers

Seminoles' offense explodes with pair of big blasts in series opener

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:23am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy, gold, and crimson, conveying the power and intensity of the Seminoles' offensive performance.An abstract, cubist interpretation of the Seminoles' offensive explosion against Notre Dame, capturing the raw energy and dynamism of the game.Tallahassee Today

The Florida State University baseball team cruised to an 11-0 victory over Notre Dame on Friday night, powered by three-run home runs from John Stuetzer and Eli Putnam. Starting pitcher Wes Mendes tossed six shutout innings, and the Seminoles' offense piled on runs throughout the game to secure the run-rule win.

Why it matters

This dominant performance helps alleviate concerns about FSU's offense and puts the team in a strong position to clinch the series against Notre Dame this weekend. The Seminoles are now 26-11 overall and 10-6 in ACC play, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a postseason berth.

The details

With FSU leading 4-0 in the sixth inning, designated hitter Nathan Cmeyla drove in another run with an RBI single. Freshman outfielder John Stuetzer then delivered a three-run homer to extend the lead to 8-0. In the seventh, first baseman Eli Putnam hit a three-run blast of his own to make it an 11-0 ballgame. Starting pitcher Wes Mendes struck out seven batters over six shutout innings to earn the win, while Brodie Purcell closed out the game with two strikeouts in the seventh.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 18, 2026.
  • FSU struck for four runs in the first four innings to take an early lead.
  • Stuetzer's three-run homer came in the sixth inning to make it 8-0.
  • Putnam's three-run shot extended the lead to 11-0 in the seventh inning.
  • The game ended in a seven-inning, run-rule victory for the Seminoles.

The players

Wes Mendes

The junior left-hander struck out seven batters over six shutout innings to earn the win and improve to 7-2 on the season.

John Stuetzer

The freshman outfielder hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to break the game open for the Seminoles.

Eli Putnam

The first baseman also hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to push FSU's lead to 11-0.

Nathan Cmeyla

The designated hitter went 3-for-4 with an RBI single and three RBIs on the day.

Brodie Purcell

The reliever pitched the seventh inning and struck out the final two batters to secure the run-rule victory.

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What they’re saying

“All the concerns about the FSU baseball team's offense drifted away at least for one night on Friday, as the Seminoles blasted a pair of three-run homers and rolled to an 11-0 victory against visiting Notre Dame.”

— Ira Schoffel, Author

What’s next

The Seminoles will look to clinch the series victory in Game 2 against Notre Dame on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The takeaway

This dominant performance by the Seminoles' offense and pitching staff serves as a strong statement that FSU is a force to be reckoned with in the ACC this season. The team's ability to bounce back from early concerns about the offense shows their resilience and potential to make a deep postseason run.