Tuesday’s midweek game between the Florida State Seminoles and Florida Gators in Jacksonville, Fla. was quite a treat for shortstop Alex Lodise. The junior from St. Augustine, Fla., played hero for the Seminoles in the ninth inning.
After Florida’s Hayden Yost got an RBI single to give the Gators a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, Florida State tied the game thanks to an RBI single from Gage Harrelson that loaded the bases for the Seminoles.
Then, Lodise stepped to the plate with a chance to end the game and he delivered, hitting a grand slam that gave the Seminoles an 8-4 win and revenge against Florida after a loss in Tallahassee on March 11.
The greatest part for Lodise? His grand slam to win the game completed a cycle for him. He went 4-for-5 on the night and had four RBIs.
The cycle by Lodise is the first one by a Florida State player since Mike Salvatore did it back in 2019. He also had the first game-ending home run by a Florida State player since 2022 when Jaime Ferrer hit one against N.C. State.
Florida State head coach Link Jarrett spoke to the media after the game about Lodise as a player.
“He’s gotten stronger. His pitch selection has gotten better. You have to apply the things you work on… you have to take it out there in competition, do it, and apply it when it matters the most. He is showing the ability to really do that.”
Heading into Tuesday night’s game, Lodise was in the top five in the Atlantic Coast Conference in batting average at .458.
His big-time hitting all season combined with his big moment game on Tuesday against Florida State’s top rival shows that he is becoming the highlight player to watch in Tallahassee.
Up Next – The Florida State Seminoles are now 21-3 overall this season. Their next test is a three-game, weekend series in ACC play against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The team will head north to South Bend, Ind. to play at Frank Eck Stadium.
The first pitch for the game on Friday, March 28, is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. EDT.
Photo: Florida State infielder Alex Lodise (1) warms up before an NCAA baseball game against Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
