No. 5 Florida State Baseball Faces Tough Test Against No. 3 Georgia Tech

The Seminoles look to continue their strong ACC play against the high-powered Yellow Jackets offense.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:38pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold, contrasting colors that deconstructs a baseball game between Florida State and Georgia Tech, conveying the intensity and importance of the top-five conference clash.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes ACC baseball matchup between Florida State and Georgia Tech, capturing the dynamic energy and strategic tension of the top-five showdown.Atlanta Today

The No. 5 ranked Florida State Seminoles baseball team is set to take on the No. 3 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in a top-five ACC matchup this weekend. The Seminoles are coming off a midweek loss to in-state rival Florida but have won every ACC series so far this season, including road wins over ranked opponents. Georgia Tech's offense has been dominant, leading the ACC in several key statistical categories, while Florida State has the conference's best pitching staff. The series will be a clash of strengths as the Seminoles look to continue their strong conference play against the Yellow Jackets' potent lineup.

Why it matters

This series represents a major test for the Seminoles as they look to solidify their position among the ACC's elite teams. A series win over the highly-ranked Yellow Jackets would further boost Florida State's NCAA Tournament resume and prove their ability to win against top competition. The outcome could also have significant implications for the ACC standings and seeding for the conference tournament.

The details

Florida State is 9-3 in ACC play so far this season, with series wins over ranked opponents Wake Forest, NC State, Duke, and Virginia. Georgia Tech, meanwhile, leads the ACC with a 12-3 conference record and boasts the league's top offense, ranking first in several key statistical categories. The Seminoles counter with the ACC's best pitching staff, led by junior lefthander Wes Mendes, who has a 1.97 ERA and 35 strikeouts. Head coach Link Jarrett says his team's experience against tough ACC competition will give them confidence, but he knows the Yellow Jackets present a major challenge, especially at the plate.

  • The series begins on Thursday, April 13 at 7 p.m.
  • Game two is on Friday, April 14 at 8 p.m.
  • The series finale is on Saturday, April 15 at 3 p.m.

The players

Wes Mendes

A junior left-handed pitcher for Florida State who has a 1.97 ERA and 35 strikeouts through eight starts this season, ranking third in the ACC in strikeouts.

Link Jarrett

The head coach of the Florida State baseball team, who has guided the Seminoles to a 9-3 ACC record so far this season, including series wins over several ranked opponents.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The No. 3 ranked baseball team in the country, leading the ACC in several offensive categories including batting average, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and walks.

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What they’re saying

“That doesn't mean this is easy, what we're staring down today. But knowing that they've gone into that and have performed well does give them confidence entering this week.”

— Link Jarrett, Head Coach, Florida State Baseball

“Efficiency, execution, put away capability when we have those moments to try to put away this group that's so dynamic and experienced, you gotta find ways to finish some of these hitters off.”

— Link Jarrett, Head Coach, Florida State Baseball

What’s next

The winner of this series will take a major step towards securing a top seed in the ACC Tournament, which could provide an advantage in the NCAA Tournament. Both teams will be closely watched by scouts as potential high draft picks in the upcoming MLB Draft.

The takeaway

This top-five ACC matchup between Florida State and Georgia Tech features two of the conference's best teams and will be a true test of the Seminoles' ability to win against elite competition. The outcome could have significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.