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Florida State baseball (22-9, 9-2) will look to take the series against ACC opponent Wake Forest (20-16, 5-10) as they hit the road and travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for three games this weekend.
The 'Noles are coming off a midweek loss to Florida at home, their third loss to the Gators this season. They still come in hot in ACC play, winning four of their last five conference games. The Demon Deacons' come in with one win in their past five games, which includes a sweep at NC State. In our latest Tomahawk Nation ACC power rankings, FSU came in at No. 2 while Wake Forest was ranked No. 12.
On offense, Wake Forest is led by Will Craig, who ranks third in the NCAA with a .442 average and fifth in on base percentage, owning a .556 mark. The infielder is also the biggest power threat on Wake, hitting nine home runs on the season to go along with a team leading 44 RBI and 13 doubles. Not only a hitter, Craig leads the Demon Deacons' bullpen with a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings. Needless to say, he can do it all.
For Florida State, third baseman John Sansone continues to hit very well, leading the team with a .387 batting average and 42 RBI to go along with his four home runs. As of recent, freshman outfielder Jackson Lueck has earned himself a spot in the starting lineup, and has responded well. Currently, the Orlando native is hitting .486 in 21 games and hit his first career collegiate home run against Florida on Tuesday.
The series gets started on Friday at 6 PM as senior RHP Mike Compton (4-1, 3.66 ERA) will look to get the Seminoles a victory against RHP Parker Dunshee (4-3, 3.66 ERA). Compton is coming off an outing against Louisville in which he pitched three innings, giving up two runs on eight hits. Dunshee is coming off a loss against NC State where he gave up six runs, however only three were earned, in 5 2/3 innings. The right hander averages over nine strikeouts per nine this season. His stamina will keep him on the mound a bit longer than Compton, as the right-hander threw 101 pitches in that loss and threw a complete game earlier this season.
On Saturday, RHP Drew Carlton (4-2, 3.41 ERA) will square off against RHP Drew Loepprich (2-1, 3.92 ERA), who will throw the first pitch at 4 PM. Carlton was tagged with his second loss of the season last week against Louisville despite pitching well. Against a top-5 team, the sophomore threw five innings, giving up two earned runs and striking out three. In 37 innings pitched this season, he has struck out 32 hitters and is third on the team with a BAA of .277. Loepprich is a contact heavy pitcher who has only struck out 27 batters in 41 innings. This will be his ninth start of the season with the last being a no-decision at NC State which he pitched five scoreless innings.
In the series finale, LHP Cole Sands (3-3, 4.25 ERA) will take the mound with Wake Forest tossing RHP Connor Johnstone (1-3, 5.74 ERA). After struggling earlier in the season, Sands made strides in the right direction against Louisville, pitching four innings while allowing one run -- more impressively, only walking one. Johnstone is also coming off a nice outing, recording a quality start last Sunday against the Wolfpack. The junior threw six innings and allowed three runs. He is also a pitcher who does not strike out many batters, recording 18 punch outs in 42-plus innings.
The 'Noles currently lead the Atlantic division of the ACC with a 9-2 conference record and could extend their lead this weekend. In Tallahassee last season, Florida State took two out of three against Wake Forest. First pitch is set for tonight at 6 PM EST. As always, Tomahawk Nation will be providing coverage all weekend long.