FSU Survives Notre Dame Comeback to Clinch Series

Seminoles hold off late surge from Fighting Irish to take second straight game

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:19pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college baseball game, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the dynamic action on the field.Florida State's resilience and late-game heroics prove the difference in a tightly contested ACC baseball showdown.Tallahassee Today

The No. 8 Florida State Seminoles held off a late comeback attempt by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to clinch their weekend series with a 9-7 victory on Saturday afternoon. FSU jumped out to an early 6-1 lead and extended it to 9-2, but Notre Dame rallied to make it a one-run game before the Seminoles were able to secure the win.

Why it matters

This series win keeps Florida State in the hunt for a top seed in the ACC tournament and potentially a high national seed for the NCAA tournament. The Seminoles have been one of the top teams in the conference all season, and this series victory over a conference foe like Notre Dame is an important step toward their postseason goals.

The details

Florida State's offense got off to a hot start, scoring four runs in the first inning and two more in the second to build a 6-1 lead. The Seminoles tacked on three more runs in the fifth inning to make it 9-2. However, Notre Dame refused to go away, scoring four runs in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 9-6. The Fighting Irish threatened in the late innings but were unable to complete the comeback, as FSU closer John Abraham recorded the save despite some shaky moments.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • FSU and Notre Dame will wrap up the series on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 1 p.m.

The players

John Abraham

The Florida State closer who recorded the save despite allowing several baserunners late in the game.

Trey Beard

The Florida State starting pitcher who allowed two runs over five innings but struggled in the sixth, leading to Notre Dame's comeback attempt.

Jack Radel

The Notre Dame starting pitcher who was knocked out after just three innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.

John Stuetzer

The Florida State hitter who drove in a career-high four runs, including a two-run triple in the fifth inning.

Eli Putnam

The Florida State hitter who hit his seventh home run of the season in the sixth inning to extend the Seminoles' lead.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for Sunday's series finale, which could be an ominous sign regarding the availability of Florida State's Bryson Moore, who left his last start early.

The takeaway

This series win keeps Florida State in the hunt for a top seed in the ACC tournament and potentially a high national seed for the NCAA tournament, as the Seminoles continue to prove they are one of the top teams in the conference this season.