Alex Lodise plays hero as FSU’s SS hits for the cycle with a walk off grand slam to top UF, 8-4
Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
The Noles use a five-run ninth to defeat Florida and tie the series
What a day for Florida State baseball.
Cal Raleigh earned a nine-figure contract, Cam Smith earned the call to the majors after only 32 minor-league games, and most importantly, for the 2025 crew, the Seminoles tied the series with Florida in a heart-stopping, walk-off, 8-4 win over their rival Florida Gators.
Alex Lodise played hero in the ninth, sending the first pitch of his AB into the stands and the night, with a walk-off grand slam, after FSU allowed two runs to the Gators in the half inning prior.
WALK IT OFF ALEX LODISE. What a win for @FSUBaseball over Florida. My goodness grand slam to end it! Massive victory for the #Noles. What a week with wins over UM and UF. Serious guts. pic.twitter.com/hoyYqWsXx8— Ariya Massoudi (@AriyaMassoudi) March 26, 2025
The at-bats stunk tonight, as Florida State tied their season-high in strikeouts, but three-straight free passes from the bottom of the lineup in the bottom of the ninth set up the top of the order to steal tonight’s game, and they did just that. Outside of the five-run ninth, Drew Faurot’s RBI single, and Brody DeLamielleure’s two-run blast two right gave the Noles the early lead over their rival.
The story belonged to the Florida State pitching staff for the first eight innings, who only allowed one hit and two runs for the first 8 2/3 IP. John Abraham got his team out of the gate, and Joe Charles steadied the ship in the middle innings, as the two combined for 5 2/3 IP and 2 ER. Chris Knier received the 7th, 8th, and 9th, and set down eight in a row to start, and got Florida down to their final out, but allowed two runs, and at the time, would be credited with the loss. Even still, to hold a lineup of Florida’s caliber to only three hits without a true starter or utilizing the top two bullpen arms should be a success in Link Jarrett’s book.
Even with horrid camera angles on the ACCNX broadcast, John Abraham’s stuff jumped off the screen in the first inning. He struck out the first batter he faced and induced groundouts on the next two hitters with weak contact and ugly swings.
Alex Lodise and Max Williams picked up where they left off from the Miami series, as the SS laced a double down the 1B lane, and Williams drew a walk on an extended AB, putting two on with one out. Drew Faurot smashed a groundball right at UF INF, and the Florida defender could not corral it, scoring FSU’s first run. The Noles should have gotten more on a Brody DeLamielleure line drive with two outs, but a leaping grab in right took two runs off the board.
After a quiet second for both sides, Florida picked up their first run with a free 270 feet around the bases in the third. Their #8 hole hitter singled, stole second and third, and scored on a wild pitch/ passed ball. The Seminole staff continues to struggle dealing with runners on base, and the catchers are not a threat to throw them out.
Abraham allowed a walk and another SB, putting a runner in scoring position with two outs for Colby Shelton. While the righties’ command wavered as the game went on, 2 2/3 IP of 1 ER ball is as good as the head coach could hope. Link Jarrett tabbed his first relief arm, Joe Charles, to get out of the jam, and the fireman extinguished the threat with a groundball on two pitches.
The 2-3-4 went down in order, even after Lodise’s single, due to a Williams 4-6-3 DP, and Faurot going down looking, as momentum seemed to be teetering towards the Gators. However, the fireman took it right back, setting UF down in order on ten pitches, including two strikeouts, both with the fastball. With FSU relying only on relievers, Jarrett needed quick outs, and Charles delivered.
The bump from Charles led to a blast from DeLamielleure. After a Bailey walk, the baseball gods repaid his stolen hit from earlier in the game as the LF went opposite field, socking a two-run home run to right, handing FSU the lead for the second time.
Up 3-1, Charles continued rolling, setting down Florida in order, making it seven up, seven down in his first 2 1⁄3 IP. His off-speed befuddled the Gators, and his ability to throw secondary pitches for strikes and in any count was the reason for his success out of the bullpen. Unfortunately, the Noles could not reward him, as UF’s Caden McDonald consistently missed Florida State bats, striking out four of the five hitters he faced.
Florida finally saw Charles in the sixth, as the reliever handed out three free passes, two with two outs, to load the bases. Jarrett left #40 out longer than he should have and handed the ball to Chris Knier to clean up the mess and get out of the jam. Knier walked the first man he faced, the third base on balls of the frame, and plating a run, but a fly out at the warning track meant FSU escaped the jam, leading 3-2.
Florida State’s bats continued to fall silent as the 6-7-8 went down in order, making it eight straight Noles without reaching base.
Knier received the seventh, and found his stuff, striking out the first batter of the inning and getting ahead 1-2 on the #9 hole hitter. However, Knier nailed him, putting a runner on with the order flipping over, but Carns, finally, took care of that, nailing the runner at second for the first caught stealing of the game. Knier returned to the heater to get the batter of the inning, striking out the lead-off man with a fastball.
After Carter McCulley and Harrelson went down again, Lodise became the first Seminole in ten at-bats to reach base, sending a gapper into right center, and hustling around second to make record a two-out triple. Yet again, the Noles could not put more space between themselves and the Gators as Williams went down looking, the 11th K for FSU, and running their total to 0-8 with two outs.
Jarrett sat as a passenger in Knier’s car, and the former JUCO pitcher continued steadying the ride, tossing a 1-2-3 top half to the Florida 2-3-4. Florida State did not make it easier on themselves heading into the ninth, as Alex Philpott struck out the side on the middle of the Seminole lineup. FSU tied their high-water mark in strikeouts with 14, a number they reached last week against Mercer. Georgia run-ruled UF twice and scored 40 runs in three games, but the Noles cannot touch any Gator reliever.
Florida led the ninth with a walk, but two straight fly-outs put the Gators down to their final out. However, UF’s pinch hitter, Lance Strippling, sent a 3-2 pitch into right center, and a Williams bobble meant the tying run would score and the runner advanced to second. Three pitches later, the potential-winning run touched home on a single.
Trailing 4-3, Phipott, who struck out the side the inning prior, lost his command. He walked West, hit Carns, and even when attempting to sac-bunt, gave ball four to McCulley. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Harrelson hit a weak ground ball at Kurland, eating up the 2B and scoring the tying run with still nobody retired.
Enter Alex Lodise.
The Saint Augustine native needed one pitch to send everyone home. The SS sent an opposite field bomb into the seats in right, hitting for the cycle and snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. FSU seemed destined for a crushing loss, but the team captain answered the call when the Noles needed a leader. It will be a happy two-and-a-half-hour bus ride back to Tallahassee this evening as Florida State comes out on top, 8-4.
