The No. 9 Florida State (23-4) softball team took to the field at JoAnne Graf Field this weekend, beginning ACC play and seeking a sweep.
After a pair of run-rule victories, 12-1 on Friday and 13-1 on Saturday, the Sunday game was not by run ruled but FSU did earn a hard-fought victory 11-6 after a flurry of runs from Syracuse in the fourth inning.
“We’ve done a good job of getting punched in the face and coming back after and scoring,” FSU coach Lonni Alameda said. “I just think it's a gritty mindset you have to have this time a year and a sweep is tough, I don't care what team you’re playing. It’s tough to do and I'm really proud to fight through that on Sunday."
The Seminoles improve to 25-4 and jump out to a 3-0 start in ACC play after the first weekend.
The Seminoles made quick work of the Orange on Friday as the Garnet and Gold blasted their way to an early lead, which was highlighted by home runs from freshmen infielder Hayley Griggs and junior infielder Jaysoni Beachum. Junior Isa Torres added two hits and drove in two runs on the night, and senior pitcher Jazzy Francik pitched four innings of solid work, striking out four and giving up one run.
On Saturday, sophomore infielder Isa Torres made her presence known on the fourth pitch of the game as she cranked a solo home run to right field to give Florida State the early lead. The Seminoles would tack on five runs in the second inning and would explode again in the fourth inning with five additional runs.
Torres has been hitting the cover off the ball since her concussion against Alabama and is a constant on the base paths. As a hitter, Torres is seeing the ball well and making contact at a blistering clip and is always one base.
The junior shortstop has reached safely in her last 18 plate appearances and is 24 of 27 since returning from injury.
When a collegiate athlete or professional athlete for that matter gets into the zone at the plate, good things happen. For Torres, she makes hitting seem easy and effortless.
“I’m really grateful to be out here healthy and playing the thing that I love to do,” Torres said. “I’m just trying to do my part, and then have my team have my back and I think they've been doing just that, so I think that's why we’ve been successful.”
Torres is hitting an NCAA-leading .648 this season.
Sunday's game started out much like the first two, with FSU jumping out on Syracuse early to the tune of six runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Jaysoni Beachum and a grand slam by Ashtyn Danley.
The Seminoles were cruising to what looked like another run-rule victory, but the Orange (11-10) had other plans. Syracuse was able to put runners on the basepaths after freshman pitcher Marlee Gaskill walked in a run. With the bases loaded, Syracuse shortstop Jadyn Burney knocked a grand slam to cut the lead to one, which led to Alameda pulling the Gaskill for star pitcher Jazzy Francik. The talented sophomore was able to get Florida State out of the jam but six runs were still up on the board for Syracuse for that inning.
The Seminoles would respond right away in the bottom of the fourth inning as they would put four runs on the board to give a little insurance. Beachum would come up big again as she knocked in three runs on a fly ball that was lost in the sun by the Syracuse outfielder. Beachum ended up with a double on the play and that was all FSU needed to send Syracuse packing.
A large number of Seminoles returned for Alumni Weekend for a reunion and celebration of the softball program. Familiar faces like Kathryn Sandercock and Michaela Edenfield were in attendance and on Friday, former pitcher Lacey Waldrop’s No. 13 was retired.
“When it started years ago, it was a little more of just celebrating alumni,” Alameda said. “Now, it’s celebrating all our family, our parents, our loved ones and our kids. I’m just really proud of how far it's grown and we have an alumni captain group that takes control of this and I think it’s awesome because they’re giving back to their program.”
The Seminoles will celebrate the opening ACC series sweep, but what lies ahead on Wednesday is an opponent Florida State knows all too well. FSU will welcome No. 2 Texas Tech to JoAnne Graf Field for a Wednesday matchup between two powerhouses of women's collegiate softball.
FSU fell to the Red Raiders earlier this year by one run and were eliminated in the postseason last year by the Red Raiders as well. Even though it is only a midweek game, the Seminoles will be tested by the best pitcher in the country in NiJaree Canady.
“We know they have good arms,” Torres said. “Having a plan against them, no matter if it’s a rise ball or her change-up. Just emphasizing our plan and sticking to that is going to be huge. I think that’s going to help us in being successful, so just coming up with a plan, sticking to our plan, and hopefully we come out on top.”
Up next
The Red Raiders and Seminoles are set for a 6 p.m. (ACC Network) first pitch on Wednesday.
