The No. 6 Florida State softball team (6-1) went toe to toe with No. 1 Texas Tech (7-0) on Thursday afternoon but fell just short in a 3-2 loss in the team's first game of the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational.

The Seminoles threatened in the seventh inning as Ashtyn Danley picked up her second infield hit of the game to get the leadoff batter on base. After a flyout, Hayley Griggs stepped in and was mere inches from hitting a home run, but the catch was made and Danley was thrown out at first to end the game.

In the first inning, Danley recorded the game's first hit on an infield single, and freshman Anna Hinde doubled into the right field gap to score Danley for the game's first run.

Se got the start for the Seminoles in the circle and was terrific as the freshman went three innings, allowed just one hit and struck out three in her second career start.

The Red Raiders got on the board with a three-spot in the fifth inning, but the Seminoles did not go down quietly. Madi Frey reached on an error to lead off the sixth inning, and Jaysoni Beachum hit a two-out double to the wall in right field to score Frey and pull the Seminoles within one.

Thursday’s matchup was the first time FSU has played the No. 1 team in the country in the regular season since playing at No. 1 Oklahoma on March 14, 2023.

Through six games, FSU’s starting pitchers have thrown 27 innings, allowed 1 earned run on 10 hits while striking out 29 batters compared to just eight walks.

Up next

The Seminoles will be back in action Friday against FAU at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

FSU will play No. 7 UCLA on Saturday at 7 p.m. (ESPN+) and No. 3 Tennessee on Sunday at 8 p.m. (ESPN).