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The Seminoles and Dukes square-off for the first time in school history.

Feb. 21, 2008

FSU Baseball Release No. 1 in PDF Format

Tallahassee, Fla. - The wait is finally over! The 2008 Florida State baseball season gets underway this weekend as the Seminoles host the Duquesne Dukes for a three-game series beginning Friday, February 22. First pitch for opening day is set for 4:00 pm on Mike Martin Field inside Dick Howser Stadium.

Florida State finished the 2007 season with a 49-13 record claiming its first ACC Atlantic Division title with a mark of 24-6. The Seminoles advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the 30th consecutive season and for the 45th time overall. FSU went 2-2 in the tournament falling to Mississippi State twice in the Tallahassee Regional.

Duquesne went 22-29 a season ago under head coach Mike Wilson. The Dukes finished in 10th place in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a league record of 10-17. Duquesne returns 21 letterwinners from last year including nine position players and one pitcher.

Weekend Game Information
Saturday, February 23, 2008, 12:00 pm
Florida State - Elih Villanueva, RHP (0-0) vs. Duquesne - Gary Pierpont, RHP (0-0)
Gametracker: Gametracker
Radio - 1270 the Team: Listen Live!
Webcast - ACC Select: Watch the Game Live!

Saturday, February 23, 2008 (45 minutes after conclusion of game one)
Florida State - Matt Fairel, LHP (0-0) vs. Duquesne - Ryan Juran, RHP (0-0)
Gametracker: Gametracker
Radio - 1270 the Team: Listen Live!

Sunday, February 24, 2008
Florida State - Mike McGee, RHP (0-0) vs. Duquesne - Paul Bugajski, RHP (0-0)
Gametracker: Gametracker
Radio - 1270 the Team: Listen Live!
Webcast - ACC Select: Watch the Game Live!

Florida State vs. Duquesne
Florida State and Duquesne will square-off for the first time in school history as the Dukes visit Tallahassee for a three-game set to kick-off the 2008 campaign for both teams. The Seminoles own a record of 171-44 when facing a team for the first time. Duquesne marks the eighth team from the Atlantic 10 that FSU has faced during its 61-year history of the program. The Seminoles have posted an all-time record of 41-1 against the Atlantic 10 with their lone loss coming against St. Louis at the College World Series in 1965. Florida State has faced Charlotte (2-0), Dayton (1-0), George Washington (2-0), Richmond (20-0), St. Bonaventure (1-0), St. Joseph's (14-0) and St. Louis (1-1).

Seminole Quick Hits
* Florida State returns five position starters and five pitchers who saw action off the mound in 2007 including a pair of starting pitchers in senior Ryan Strauss and junior Bo O'Dell. In all, the Seminoles welcome back 13 of 31 letterwinners for the upcoming season.

* The Seminoles return three of their top four hitters from last year's squad that recorded the highest team batting average in school history with a .350 mark. Buster Posey, Jack Rye and Jason Stidham ranked two, three, four, respectively, in hitting last year.

* FSU's 2008 recruiting class, which was ranked No. 2 by Collegiate Baseball, feature 17 newcomers including 14 freshmen. Also joining the Seminoles this season is a trio of transfers in Tony Delmonico (Tennessee), Elih Villanueva (Miami-Dade Community College) and Ben Francis (Gulf Coast Community College).

* Florida State enters the season looking to build off last year's 24-6 league mark and its first ACC Atlantic Division title. The Seminoles have averaged just over 50 wins since 2000 and will chase their 31st consecutive NCAA Regional appearance in 2008, the second longest streak in the nation.

* The Seminoles will start the season ranked 12th by Collegiate Baseball and USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll and 13th by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Buster Posey and Jack Rye were named Preseason All-Americans.

* Buster Posey and Jack Rye were named to the preseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, while Posey joined Ryan Strauss and Jason Stidham on the preseason watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award.

For Complete Notes please see the above PDF.