No. 21 Florida State wasted no time making a statement on Wednesday night, rolling past North Florida 14-9 to open a nine-game homestand at Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee. The in-state midweek clash delivered a dramatic first inning lead for the Ospreys before Florida State’s potent offense shifted into an entirely different gear — one North Florida simply had no answer for.
The victory pushed Florida State to 5-2 on the season, while the Ospreys dropped to 5-5 following a game in which they scored nine runs and committed zero errors, yet still walked away on the losing end against one of college baseball’s top-ranked programs.
Bailey Puts on a Power Display for Florida
If there was a single defining force behind Florida State’s commanding performance, it was sophomore first baseman Myles Bailey. The slugger connected on two home runs on the night, including a mammoth 428-foot opposite-field blast that cleared the left-field scoreboard and left the Dick Howser crowd in stunned silence — or rather, erupting in celebration. Bailey finished the night 3-for-3 with four RBI, three runs scored and a hit-by-pitch, setting new career highs across the board. His performance signaled that Florida’s most dangerous weapon in the lineup this season may well be the sophomore who is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.
Bailey had actually connected on two home runs against North Florida in last year’s meeting as well, making Wednesday’s showing something of a personal tradition against the Ospreys. Florida State scored six times in the second inning alone, riding a wave of momentum that North Florida simply could not contain.
Farner’s Leadoff Blast Gave Florida’s Opponent Early Hope
North Florida’s junior infielder Mathew Farner gave the Ospreys — and their traveling supporters — something to believe in before Florida State’s bats woke up. Farner crushed his fifth home run of the season on the very first pitch of the game, a leadoff shot to left-center that put North Florida ahead 1-0. It was a stunning, electric opening that briefly suggested the Ospreys might pull off an upset against a ranked Florida program.
Farner finished the night 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, two walks and the home run — a standout individual effort in a losing cause. Redshirt junior Jackson Toberman was equally impressive in defeat, going 1-for-3 with four RBI, a run scored and a walk. Toberman’s bases-clearing three-RBI double to right-center in the sixth inning was the highlight of a four-run North Florida frame that made things temporarily interesting. Seth Alford contributed a 2-for-3 effort with two RBI and a run scored, and the Ospreys as a team finished with nine hits and zero errors — a clean, competitive showing that simply ran into a Florida State buzzsaw.
Florida State’s Depth Buries the Ospreys
Beyond Bailey, Florida State‘s lineup showed the kind of depth that makes ranked programs so difficult to slow down. Sophomore right fielder Noah Sheffield went 2-for-something on the night, delivering a key two-run double to left-center in the eighth inning that extended Florida State’s lead to an insurmountable margin. Freshman designated hitter Kelvyn Paulino Jr., making his first career collegiate start, contributed two hits and three RBI — a debut that suggests Florida State’s talent pipeline shows no signs of slowing down.
On the mound, sophomore left-hander Payton Manca earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the season, while North Florida starter Tommy Groom absorbed the loss and dropped to 0-1. Florida State’s pitching staff combined to hold North Florida in check across the most critical innings, limiting the Ospreys’ ability to sustain any real offensive momentum beyond their individual bright spots.
What’s Next for Both Florida Programs
Florida State now turns its attention to a weekend series against The Citadel, set to begin Friday, February 27 at noon ET at Dick Howser Stadium. The Seminoles have every reason to feel confident heading into the weekend as their Florida homestand continues with a roster that is clearly capable of producing offense from multiple positions on any given night.
North Florida, meanwhile, returns home to Harmon Stadium for a weekend series against Presbyterian, with Game One scheduled for Friday at 6:05 p.m. Despite the loss, the Ospreys demonstrated genuine fight against a top-25 Florida program — scoring nine runs, playing clean defense and showcasing individual performers capable of competing at any level. The series against Presbyterian offers a prime opportunity for North Florida to reset and build momentum heading deeper into the 2026 season.
