The Florida State Seminoles are off to a roaring start in their softball season, leaving their opponents in the dust! In a thrilling doubleheader on Saturday, the No. 7 Seminoles swept the Marshall Thundering Herd, winning both games and extending their early-season record to a flawless 4-0.
Game 1: A Strong Start for the Seminoles
Florida State began their onslaught in the first game, securing a 6-2 victory. Isa Torres, the dynamic shortstop, ignited the offense with a leadoff triple in the first inning, eventually scoring the game's first run on a wild pitch. The Seminoles' bats remained silent until the fourth inning, when they exploded for three more runs. Anna Hinde's walk and Makenna Sturgis' two-run homer, her first as a freshman, set the tone. Torres added a single, and Marin Heller's left-field single scored her, aided by a Marshall error.
Florida State's offense was relentless, racking up nine hits and six walks while striking out just once. Their power was on full display with three extra-base hits, including a double, triple, and home run. However, they left 10 runners on base, a potential cause for concern.
On the mound, Jazzy Francik dominated for five innings, striking out eight and allowing only three hits and one walk. She earned the win, improving her record to 2-0. Bella Dimitrijevic made her circle debut in the sixth inning, escaping a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout. Despite allowing a two-run homer in the seventh, she showed promise.
Game 2: Seminoles Seal the Deal
In the second game, Florida State continued their dominance, winning 10-2 in a five-inning run-rule victory. The Seminoles wasted no time, scoring two runs in the second inning. Hayley Griggs, the freshman first baseman, hit a solo home run, and Marin Heller, another freshman, singled to score Madi Frey from second base.
But here's where it gets controversial—the Seminoles' pitching struggled early on. Marlee Gaskell started but couldn't make it out of the third inning. Ashtyn Danley replaced her and allowed Marshall to score a run, but she quickly regained control. Florida State's offense responded in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs, including two on Isa Torres' single.
Marshall threatened in the fifth inning with a solo home run by Sydni Burko, but Danley settled down and stranded two runners. In the bottom half, FSU sealed the deal with three RBI doubles in a row from Frey, Torres, and Heller. Shelby McKenzie's RBI single provided the final blow, triggering the run-rule victory.
Danley secured the win, also moving to 2-0 on the season. The Seminoles now hold a commanding 7-0 all-time record against Marshall, with a perfect 6-0 record in Tallahassee.
With this impressive performance, Florida State advances to 33-5 all-time in the JoAnne Graf Classic. They'll look to finish strong against UConn on Sunday morning, aiming to maintain their perfect record.
And this is the part most people miss—can the Seminoles keep up this momentum throughout the season? Will their pitching staff find consistency? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
