JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville baseball continues its home stand to start the season, welcoming No. 16 Florida State. This matchup marks the 185th meeting between the two teams, making it the second-longest rivalry in Jacksonville history, trailing only Stetson (204 all-time meetings).
Both teams enter Tuesday's match up after perfect opening weekends, combining for a 6-0 record. Jacksonville swept the visiting Rhode Island Rams, reigning A10 champions and 2026 preseason favorites, while Florida State went 2-0 against James Madison.
In the past three seasons, the Dolphins are only 1-8. However, seven of the nine games had less than a three run margin. Last year in Jacksonville, the Dolphins had the bases loaded with only one out in the bottom of the eight, a clear chance to take the lead against the undefeated Noles. However, the Dolphins couldn't convert on this chance, and went down 6-9.
Record Setting Weekend
The four-game series saw the Dolphins tally 46 runs, their highest total in the first four games of a season since 2016 (49 runs), and achieve their first 4-0 start since 2022.
Jacksonville also secured its first opening day run-rule victory since February 22, 2008, when the Dolphins, led by former head coach Terry Alexander, recorded a 20-8 win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Friday's game was Jacksonville's highest-scoring opening day since 2008.
Derek Bermudez, a transfer from FIU, led the offense by going 9-for-15 (.600) with two home runs and 13 RBI's. His 1.714 OPS and 16 total bases top the team, and he accounted for one of Jacksonville's two grand slams against Rhode Island.
Roger Vergara stands among the nation's top hitters after going 8-for-12 (.667) with a .778 OBP. The senior transfer from ECU also turned three double plays and notched eight putouts at second base.
Few can say they started their collegiate career hotter than
Cade Walter. Leading off, he launched a 3-2 pitch over the new walls at John Sessions Stadium for his first home run. After the lineup batted around and loaded the bases, Walter hit an 0-1 breaking ball for his second homer of the inning, a grand slam. The redshirt freshman saw nine pitches in the first inning and collected five RBI's.
Jonah Shields, one of the few returning starters, justified his preseason All-ASUN selection by going 6-for-15 with five RBI's and five runs scored. He leads the team in stolen bases (3-for-3 vs. Rhode Island) and made several impressive plays in his debut as the team's primary center fielder.
Noles By The Numbers
FSU opened with two wins over James Madison, as game three was canceled due to weather. The Noles took Friday's game 5-1 and followed with a dominant 16-5 win on Saturday.
In game one, sophomore standout Myles Bailey started the season with a towering 425-foot home run to right center on the first pitch he saw. The Noles held just a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the eighth before adding insurance with a run on a balk and a two-run single, making it 5-1.
Saturday was better for the Seminoles, who scored crooked numbers in five of six innings en route to a 16-5 run-rule victory.
Florida State began the season ranked in every major poll, reaching its highest mark at No. 9 in Perfect Game. The Noles were picked third in the ACC preseason coaches poll, behind Georgia Tech and North Carolina, but garnered a first-place vote, one of just four ACC teams to do so.
Same Teams, New Faces
The Dolphins and Seminoles faced each other three times last year and will do so again this season. Both teams feature revamped rosters: Jacksonville welcomed 18 new players for 2026, including 12 transfers and six freshmen, while the Seminoles brought in 22 newcomers.
Much of the Seminoles' roster overhaul originated from the MLB Draft. Florida State saw 11 players selected in 2025, including former Dolphins Payton Prescott and Evan Crest. Prescott was picked by the New York Mets in the fifth round (163rd overall), while Crest went to the Cleveland Guardians in the 15th round (462nd overall).
