The Florida State softball team is back home for a regional this weekend. That much was understood given the team’s ACC Tournament championship and RPI.
But the Seminoles (49-8) did not earn a top 8 national seed when the field of 64 was announced on Sunday night. Instead, FSU was the No. 9 national seed and will host a regional that begins on Friday in Tallahassee.
FSU players, coaches and staff were on the edge of their seats inside the Moore Athletic Center for the selection show as it was revealed. Instead, they watched as six SEC programs were among the top-8 national seeds.
A four-team regional will begin with FSU vs. Stetson (36-20) on Friday at noon (ESPNU). The second game will be UCF vs. Jacksonville State. Ticket information on the regional is to come on Seminoles.com.
“At the beginning of the season we just talked about whatever comes our way at the end of the season, we’re just grateful to be in it. Want to be present and get after it,” FSU coach Lonni Alameda said. “We’re at a really good time for us as a team right now, playing really good softball as a team.”
FSU owns a head-to-head win over UCLA in Clearwater on Feb. 14. But the Bruins, who did have a higher RPI, earned the No. 8 national seed and are slotted ahead of the Seminoles.
Athletics director Michael Alford shared his frustration on Twitter/X on Sunday night.
Was Alameda disappointed by the seeding?
“It’s hard not to get caught up in it,” Alameda said. “I think just this weekend what we did at the ACC Tournament and the growth that we had, I want to put my head on the pillow tonight knowing that we’re prepped for anything moving forward and don’t get caught up too much in how they have to figure out who they’re going to seed and were the people are going to go.
“Sometimes that’s energy wasted vs. foot forward and do what we need to do. It’s a good regional for us and we’re in a good spot. Just want to move forward with that mindset.”
Top-8 national seeds
Alabama
Texas
Oklahoma
Nebraska
Arkansas
Florida
Tennessee
UCLA
If FSU and UCLA both win their regionals, a best-of-three Super Regional would be held in Los Angeles.
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