FSU baseball’s Link Jarrett talks win over North Carolina, upcoming ACC tournament
FSU baseball’s Link Jarrett talks win over North Carolina, upcoming ACC tournament
Link Jarrett had a vision for Alex Lodise when he transferred into the Florida State baseball program.
The Seminoles’ head coach spotted Lodise and knew the tools he had displayed as a freshman at UNF could translate into success in FSU’s middle infield. After he entered the transfer portal, Jarrett and Lodise met to discuss his move into the program.
The now junior shortstop said Jarrett had a simple pitch to him.
“The vision was to go to Omaha,” Lodise said.
And to Omaha they went, with the Seminoles ending last season in the College World Series semifinals after posting a single-season best turnaround in Jarrett’s second year with a 49-17 record, a 26-win improvement on the 23-31 record in year one.
Now with a deep postseason run in the team’s back pocket, Lodise and FSU are set to begin the ACC tournament with hopes of a return to Omaha.
The Seminoles are the second seed, which earned the team a double bye, and will face the No. 7 Duke.
Alex Lodise is exceeding even his own expectations
Lodise will look to lead the Seminoles on a deep run in Durham, North Carolina, and check another goal off his personal expectations list this year.
He had a list of achievements he wanted to collect in his junior season with FSU, winning ACC defensive player of the year and being the all-conference first team shortstop were both on that list.
Not only did he achieve both of those, but he went a step further, being named the ACC player of the year.
While his defensive ability to make difficult plays look routine has drawn a lot of praise, his production at the plate was equally impressive. He hit .422 with a tied team-high 17 home runs alongside 63 RBI, and even hit for the cycle with a walk-off grand slam against Florida in Jacksonville.
Jarrett let Lodise know in a team meeting of his accolades, and it was a chance for the star shortstop to relish the journey he’s been on in his collegiate career.
“It was kind of a moment where the hard work almost paid off. It made me realize coming from UNF to being the ACC player of the year is a pretty big jump,” Loidse said. “It was a surreal moment.”
A swing change and preseason confidence led to Lodise’s breakout year
Loidse has been a mainstay in the Seminoles’ lineup since transferring to FSU from UNF after his freshman season. While his first season in Garnet and Gold didn’t result in the same success at the plate that this year did, a late-season swing change altered Lodise’s trajectory as he entered the offseason.
He made slight changes to his approach, and while playing in the popular offseason Cape Cod league, Lodise felt things starting to click and he knew his junior season could be special.
“Going into this winter, I knew I could be good and be like an early hitter in this offense,” Lodsie said. “Coming into the preseason, I think that’s where I kind of showed that I and showed that I could do it. That’s where I gained all my confidence.
“The preseason was the best I’ve ever hit in my life. I think I hit better in the preseason than I’m hitting right now in the actual season.”
Lodise’s contribution to the lineup from the second spot has been instrumental in the Seminoles’ success this season and has helped the team earn a second seed in the ACC tournament.
While Jarrett preaches to his team to only take things one game at a time, Lodise is hopeful that the Seminoles’ stay in Durham isn’t a short one.
“You just want to come up here and win games. Link [Jarrett] always talks about game by game, and then worry about what comes next,” Lodise said. “I think if we just do what we need to do and play the way we need to play, everything will work out.
We just got to win one, and then win one, and then win the third, hopefully.”
When does FSU baseball play Duke in the ACC tournament?Time:Â 3 p.m.Date:Â Friday, May 23Location:Â Durham Bulls Athletic Park / Durham, North Carolina
FSU will play Duke on Friday, May 23 at 3 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
How to watch FSU baseball vs Duke in the ACC tournament?
TV channel:Â ACC Network/ESPN2
The first 14 games of the ACC tournament will be streamed on the ACC Network, with the championship game set to be broadcast on ESPN2.
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney