Preview: Florida State at Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (Interstat) — Two of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top teams continue their series Friday when Florida State visits Virginia at Davenport Field.

The Cavaliers (24-7) took the series opener Thursday with a 4-3 victory. Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for the afternoon, though forecasts call for rain and 82-degree temperatures in Lake Monticello.

Both teams enter with identical 7-4 marks in ACC play. Virginia holds a slight edge in the overall series, winning two of three games last season.

A player to watch for the Seminoles (22-7) is reliever Cooper Whited. The right-hander has been dominant in recent outings, not allowing a hit over his last 11 innings spanning three appearances, though he has surrendered four earned runs in that stretch with 14 strikeouts.

Virginia’s offense is powered by Sam Harris. The slugger is coming off a massive performance Tuesday in a 16-2 win over Old Dominion, going 5 for 5 with two home runs and six RBIs. For the season, he is batting .410 with nine homers and 35 RBIs.

The Seminoles have lost three of their last five, including the Thursday defeat and a series loss to Duke last weekend. Virginia has won eight of its last ten, with the only blemishes being a 17-0 loss at Boston College and Thursday’s narrow win.

Statistical projections offer a split verdict. Interstat’s game simulator predicts a high-scoring affair with Florida State winning 8-7, while its ELO rating system gives Virginia a 54% probability of victory.

Following Friday’s contest, the series concludes Saturday. Florida State then hosts Jacksonville on Sunday before a midweek rematch with Florida. Virginia hosts James Madison on Tuesday before traveling to Notre Dame for a conference series next weekend.