The No. 6 Florida State softball team (7-1) rallied back from an early deficit to defeat Florida Atlantic (5-2) 9-5 on Friday night at the Shriner’s Children’s Clearwater Invitational.

After a scoreless first inning, Shelby McKenzie got the Noles first hit of the game on an infield single. Hayley Griggs hit her first career triple down the right-field line to put the Noles up 1-0.

The Owls rallied back with four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-1 lead.

After a quiet third inning, FSU got back to work in the fourth with Anna Hinde legging out an infield single to start the inning. Griggs continued her hot streak with her second RBI of the night with a double to right center to bring Hinde home.

Makenna Sturgis immediately replaced Griggs at second with a double of her own to bring the Noles within one. Isa Torres hit a two-out double through the right side to score Sturgis to tie the game. Marin Heller hit a blooper into shallow center field to give the Noles the 5-4 lead.

Jazzy Francik threw up a zero for the Noles in the bottom of the fourth, and Ashtyn Danley and Hinde hit back-to-back home runs to put the Noles up three.

FAU responded with one run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Sturgis hit her second home run of the season to give the Noles a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

The Owls got two runners on in the seventh, but Francik shut the door to pick up her fourth win of the season.

Coming up

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