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FSU sports information:

The No. 14 Florida State softball team (41-12, 19-4) split a doubleheader with Syracuse (28-22, 8-15) on Friday at Skytop Softball Stadium. The Orange took the first game 4-3, but FSU responded with a 3-2 win to even the series.

Game 2
The Seminoles used a three-run second inning and some great pitching and defense to take the Orange 3-2 in the second game of the day.

After Syracuse scored a run in the bottom of the first, the Seminoles responded with three runs on five hits to take the lead. Michaela Edenfield and Jahni Kerr each singled to put runners on for Hallie Wacaser who delivered with a single into left field to score the Seminoles' first run of the game. Amaya Ross walked to load the bases, and Kaley Mudge singled into left field to give FSU the lead. Jaysoni Beachum beat out a throw for an infield single to bring in another run to give them a 3-1 lead.

Mimi Gooden got the start in the circle for the Noles and was terrific as she pitched six innings and regularly got out of damage to keep the Orange in check. The Orange tried to put together another seventh inning rally as they scored a run, but Allison Royalty came in and got the final three outs to earn her first save of the season.

Game 1
FSU bats went cold in game one allowing the Orange to take a 4-3 win via a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning. FSU struck first in the third inning as Ross and Mudge led off the inning with back-to-back singles. The two would go on to advance to second and third, and Isa Torres delivered a two-out single to give the Noles the 2-0 lead.

The Orange struck back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third. The two teams went scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, but Kennedy Harp came on to pinch hit in the top of the sixth and drew a two-out walk to put her on base. Harp went on to steal second to put herself in scoring position. Harp stole third, and the throw got away allowing her to score to give the Noles the lead.

Syracuse scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game and got a one-out single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.

The series finale will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. With a win, FSU can clinch a share of the ACC regular season title.

FSU sports information:

The No. 14 Florida State softball team (40-11, 18-3) will close out its regular season this weekend as they head to Syracuse, N.Y., to take on the Syracuse Orange (26-21, 7-14) on Friday and Saturday at Skytop Softball Stadium. Due to expected inclement weather on Sunday, the two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. The series finale will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. All three games can be seen live on ACCNX.

What's on the Line?

• Winners in 22 out of its last 24 games, FSU has made its way to the top of the ACC standings are in position to win its 15 ACC Regular Season Championship this weekend.
• FSU is one game ahead of Duke in the loss column and will need to sweep the Orange to claim the outright ACC Championship. FSU can also clinch a share of the ACC Regular Season Championship with two wins against the Orange. FSU would lose the tiebreaker to Duke and would be the No. 2 seed in next week's ACC Tournament if they share the regular season championship.
• FSU has dominated the series against the Orange, holding a 29-2 record against Syracuse. FSU has not lost to Syracuse since 2005. FSU has won 23 consecutive games against Syracuse.

Built To Finish

• A Lonni Alameda coached team is always going to finish the season strong and this year seems to be no different.
• FSU will finish 16-1 in April and has outscored its opponents 135-34.
• In the past four seasons. Florida State is 90-12-1 during the months of April and May.

Oh, How the Tables Have Turned

• After losing four out of five games to the likes of Alabama, Duke and Texas, the Seminoles have won 22 out of their last 24 games and are in sole possession of first place in the ACC.
• 12 out of FSU's 22 wins have come via run rule.
• FSU has jumped up to No. 10 in the RPI and have put themselves in great condition to host a regional for the 10th consecutive season.
• FSU has outscored their opponent 213-70 and are averaging 8.87 runs per game in its past 24 games.
• During their eight-game winning streak from Mar. 23-Apr. 3, FSU scored at least eight runs in all eight of those games during the winning streak. That tied the school record for the longest streak of scoring eight or more runs. The last time FSU accomplished the feat was from Mar. 19-31, 2019.
• FSU's pitching has made significant strides over the past 24 games as they hold a 3.11 ERA and have allowed more than five runs just three times in the last 24 games after allowing five or more runs 11 times in the first 27 games.

Limiting the Big Inning

• One key to FSU's recent pitching success has been limiting the big inning.
• In the first 27 games, FSU allowed three or more runs in 17 innings. In the last 24 games, FSU has allowed three more runs in just seven innings.
• FSU has also been limiting their free bases in the last 24 games. FSU is allowing just 2.91 free bases per game which is down from 3.5 free bases per game in their first 27 games.
• FSU has also seen a significant improvement in its team ERA as they have posted a 3.11 ERA in the last 24 games compared to a 4.21 ERA in the first 27 games.

Wait, They're Only Freshmen?!?!?!

• Yes, some of Florida State's best production has come from a freshmen class that was ranked the No. 3 overall class by softball America.
• Jaysoni Beachum (.452) and Isa Torres (.376) hold two out of the top four batting averages on the team.
• Both Beachum and Torres were named Top 25 finalists for the TUCCI/NFCA National Freshman of the Year award last week.
• In the circle, Ashtyn Danley has recorded a team-high 17 starts and 109 innings.
• Mimi Gooden has also been a force for the Noles in the circle as she has pitched 40 innings and made eight starts.
• All five freshman hitters have recorded a hit and a RBI this season with Torres, Beachum and Kennedy Harp all recording 10+ hits.
• The six freshmen have made a combined 135 starts this season.
• 148 out of the team's 481 (31%) hits have come from freshmen.
• 128 out of the team's 372 RBI (35%) have come from freshmen.
• Iowa is the only power five team in the country to have more offensive production come from freshmen.
• 43% of the team's innings pitched have come from freshmen.

Youth in the Circle

• A program that has continuously put together one of the best pitching staffs in the country has faced a new challenge this year....youth.
• 74% of innings thrown this year have been from either freshman or sophomores.
• 43% of the innings pitched have been from true freshmen.
• Freshmen and sophomores have combined to start 34 out of the Seminoles' 51 games this season.

Get Hot, Stay Hot

• The Florida State offense has been one of the best in the country through the first 47 games of the season.
• FSU is averaging 7.98 runs per game which is fourth in the country and leads the ACC. FSU is hitting .347 as a team which ranks sixth in the country.
• FSU has scored 408 runs through 51 games this season which is on pace to break the school record of 459 runs scored by the 2016 team. The 2016 team scored 392 runs through 50 games.
• In 50 games, FSU has scored 8 or more runs in 32 games. In 69 games last season, FSU scored eight or more runs just 22 times.
• FSU has scored 10 or more runs in 17 games so far this season after accomplishing that feat just eight times last season.

Dominance in the ACC

• Florida State has been on top of the ACC for the past decade.
• FSU has won eight out of the last nine ACC Tournament Championships and seven out of the last nine ACC Regular Season Championships.
• Since 2012, FSU has lost just three ACC road series and has not lost an ACC road series since 2019.
• FSU has lost just three ACC series in the last four seasons and have lost just five ACC series since 2012.

Call It What It Is. Jaysoni Beachum is the Best Freshman in the Country

• Jaysoni Beachum has continued to solidify herself as not only one of the best freshmen in the country but as one of the best players in the country.
• Beachum, a native of Tallahassee, leads the team with a .452 batting average, 71 hits, 15 home runs and 59 RBI.
• Her 61 RBI is the most ever by a Florida State freshman as she broke Sydney Sherrill's record of 58 RBI this past Saturday. It also the sixth-most RBI ever by a Florida State player
• Beachum has hit eight home runs in her last 11 games.
• In her last 11 games, Beachum has recorded 22 RBI
• Beachum is just the third true freshman in school history to have 10+ home runs and 50+ RBI joining Jessi Warren and Sydney Sherrill.
• Beachum has recorded a hit in 39 out of the Seminoles' 51 games this season.
• Out of the 51 games this season, Beachum has had two or more hits in 26 games.
• Beachum has the highest batting average in the country among freshmen and has the seventh highest batting average in the country.
• Beachum is on pace to break the freshmen school record for batting average, hits, slugging percentage and on base percentage in a season.
• Beachum has had two multi-home run games this season. Beachum is the first true freshman since Kalei Harding in 2021 to have a multi-home run game.
• Beachum has also locked down the hot corner for the Noles making 50 starts at the positions. Beachum has committed just five errors this season.
• Beachum was the only freshman to be on the USA Softball National Player of the Year Top 26 list. Beachum is the first freshman in program history to be named a finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year award.
• Beachum was named the ACC Player of the Week on Apr. 23 and became the first FSU true freshman to win the award since Sydney Sherrill in 2018.
• Beachum was named Softball America's Freshman of the Month in February, March and April.

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FSU sports information:

The No. 20 Florida State women’s tennis team (17-8) Swept UNC Asheville (16-4) 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Lindsey Hopkins Tennis Facility in Athens, Ga.

Due to inclement weather, the start of the match was delayed two hours and was moved indoors.

The Seminoles kicked off the match with a 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles. Laura Putz and Cade Cricchio clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win at No. 3 to give FSU the 1-0 lead.

Freshman Eva Shaw dominated as she won 6-0, 6-1 against Valeria Dickson at No. 6 singles to extend the lead to 2-0.
Anna Arkadianou extended the lead to 3-0 with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Alexis Nyborg at No. 3 singles.

Vic Allen clinched the match as she defeated Linge Steenkamp 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1 singles to give the Seminoles the 4-0 sweep. Ellie Schoppe was up 6-0, 5-4 when the match was concluded. Millie Bissett was up 7-5, 3-2.

Florida State advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for a seventh consecutive appearance and will face the winner of No. 7 Georgia and Alabama State on Saturday at 1 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at Seminoles.com.

#20 Florida State 4, UNC Asheville 0
Singles Competition
1. #21 Vic Allen (FSU) def. Linge Steenkamp 6-2, 6-1
2. #35 Ellie Schoppe (FSU) vs. Louise Booker 6-0, 5-4 (unfinished)
3. Anna Arkadinaou (FSU) def. Alexis Nyborg 6-2, 6-3
4. Millie Bissett (FSU) vs. Angelina Hug 7-5, 3-2 (unfinished)
5. Kristyna Lavickova (FSU) vs. Rosie Dickson 6-7, 1-1 (unfinished)
6. Eva Shaw (FSU) def. Valeria Dickson 6-0, 6-1

Doubles Competition
1. #17 Vic Allen/Millie Bissett (FSU) def. Ari Siegel/Linge Steenkamp 6-1
2. Ellie Schoppe/Anna Arkadianou (FSU) vs. Angelina Hug/Rosie Dickson 3-5 (unfinished)
3. Cade Cricchio/Laura Putz (FSU) def. Avery Sager/Valeria Centeno 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,3,1)

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Friday evening we were at our son’s senior night for his baseball team. My wife was walking down a hill to get to the field and she slipped and broke her tibia and fibula. Luckily, we had finished the ceremony part but we had to miss the game. She was transported to the hospital where she was admitted and was hospitalized for two nights. She had to get a titanium rod and 4 pins placed in her leg. She’s at home now and recovering. She’s expecting to miss 8 weeks of work. I started a go fund me for her. I would never ask anyone to donate money to us but if you could share just once on your social media. I don’t do social media out side of this place. Thank you for your help.

FSU sports information:

The No. 4 Florida State beach volleyball team (31-7) defeated No. 13 Washington (20-17), 3-1 in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Washington jumped out in front, taking the first set on three of the five courts. However, the pair of Raelyn White and Audrey Konenig put the Noles up 1-0 behind a 21-16, 21-7 victory on court three.

Skyler Germann and Morgan Chacon extended the lead, taking the win on court four, 21-14, 22-20.

With a 2-0 lead, three pairs forced a third set after controlling the second.

Washington outlasted Alli Hanson and Anna Long (16-21, 22-20, 13-15), who battled back after falling behind 9-15 in the second set. The Huskies took the third to cut the lead, 2-1.

Moments later, the duo of Maddie Anderson and Alexis Durish pulled ahead late in the third set to secure the win, 19-21, 21-15, 15-11.

Kaileigh Truslow and Caitlin Moon were leading 10-7 on court five in the third set as Anderson and Durish clinched the victory.

The Seminoles will face No. 5 Cal Poly in the second round at 11 a.m. ET, after the Mustangs took down No. 12 Arizona State 3-0. The semifinals will take place on Saturday at 2 p.m. Matches will air on ESPN2 and live stats will be available on Seminoles.com.

No. 4 Florida State 3, No. 13 Washington 1

1. Maddie Anderson/Alexis Durish (FSU) def. Magdalena Rabitsch/Piper Monk-Heidrich (UW) 19-21, 21-15, 15-11
2. Zoey Henson/Lauren Wilcock (UW) def. Alli Hansen/Anna Long (FSU) 21-16, 20-22, 15-13
3. Raelyn White/Audrey Koenig (FSU) def. Kendall Mather/Kiersytn Barton (UW) 21-16, 21-17
4. Skylar Germann/Morgan Chacon (FSU) def. Scarlett Dahl/Natalie Martin (UW) 21-14, 22-20
5. Kaileigh Truslow/Caitlin Moon (FSU) vs. Brooke Balue/Josie Ulrich (UW) 16-21, 21-18, 10-7 unf.

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and indications are that it could be another bad one. With more and more homes being built in the interface of forest/open land/wilderness, the protection of those homes becomes tougher. We took a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday and the amount of grass now visible in forested areas is worrisome.
Invasive grasses were the critical non native element in the destructive fires in Hawaii.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/21/climate/wildfire-grass-risk-west-us/index.html
CNN —
A ubiquitous, resilient and seemingly harmless plant is fueling an increase in large, fast-moving and destructive wildfires in the United States.

Grass is as plentiful as sunshine, and under the right weather conditions is like gasoline for wildfires: All it takes is a spark for it to explode.

Planet-warming emissions are wreaking havoc on temperature and precipitation, resulting in larger and more frequent fires. Those fires are fueling the vicious cycle of ecological destruction that are helping to make grass king.

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Via FSU sports information:

The No. 4 Florida State beach volleyball team will play No. 13 Washington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Gulf Shores, Alabama on Friday at 10 a.m.

FSU has advanced to all eight NCAA Tournament in sport history. Since 2016, FSU has appeared in three National Championship matches, including in 2022.

The Seminoles (30-7) are coming off a dominant, undefeated run in Huntsville, Alabama, claiming the seventh CCSA Championship.

Prior to the tournament, Maddie Anderson captured AVCA All-America second team honors. Anderson contributed 18 wins this season, including four with Alexis Durish.

Friday’s contest is the third meeting between the Noles and Huskies in program history. In 2023, FSU won both matchups, 4-1.

The Huskies are coming off a 20-15 regular season, picking up up big wins against No. 7 Cal, No. 12 Arizona State, No. 13 FIU, No. 19 Arizona, and No. 14 Grand Canyon. Washington came up short in the Pac-12 Tournament, getting eliminated by third-seeded Stanford in the contender’s bracket.

The match will be available for live stream on ESPN+. Future opponents will be announced following the match. Live stats will be available on Seminoles.com.

Match Links

Watch ESPN+: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/20956ee9-c285-421d-9130-243a04557173

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FSU sports information:

Florida State’s Lottie Woad was named the ACC Golfer of the Year, and Woad and Mirabel Ting were named to the All-ACC Women’s Golf team in a vote by the league’s 12 head coaches and announced by the league office. Woad is the third Seminole to win the ACC Golfer of the Year award – Seminole All-American Frida Kinhult was the co-ACC Golfer of the Year in 2019 and Beatrice Wallin was named as the ACC’s best golfer in 2021.

It marks the third time in the six years that a Florida State player has been named as the ACC Golfer of the Year. The award was not presented in 2020.

With Ting and Woad named to the All-ACC team, it marks the eighth consecutive year that at least two Seminoles have been named to the All-ACC Women’s Golf Team. It also marks the second consecutive year Woad has earned All-ACC honors, and the second consecutive year Ting has earned all-conference honors as she was named to the All-Southland Conference team in 2023 at Augusta University before transferring to Florida State.

“We are so very proud of both Lottie and Mirabel for earning All-ACC honors this season,” said Head Coach Amy Bond. “Lottie has had such a great and consistent year and deserved to be named the ACC Golfer of the Year. What a great accomplishment for her as a sophomore. I’m looking forward to watching her continued growth as both a player and as a young woman; she‘s going to do great things in the future.”

Bond now boasts at least one All-ACC golfer in each of her years as Florida State’s head coach. Her streak began in 2012 and counts 26 All-ACC selections since 2012.

“It’s wonderful to have players on the All-ACC team for a 12th straight year,” said Bond. “It’s great for Lottie and Mirabel, and it’s great for our program. As a coaching staff, we are very proud of all of our players, now and throughout our time at Florida State, and the caliber of people who help elevate our program every year.”

At the No. 3 ranked golfer in the nation by Clippd, Woad enters next week’s NCAA Las Vegas Regional Championship as the highest ranked golfer in the ACC. She leads the Seminoles with a 70.00 stroke average in 18 rounds during six tournaments. Woad has scored 15 of her 18 rounds at par or better and 17 of her 18 rounds at 75 or better. She has scored seven of her 18 collegiate rounds in the 60’s and is a total of 30 strokes under par for her entire sophomore season. Woad won the individual championship of the ANNIKA Invitational in September and has finished in the top-eight in the individual standings of each of her six collegiate tournaments this year.

Woad won the championship of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur – the most prestigious women’s amateur tournament in the world on April 6, 2024. The final round of the ANWA was played on the famed Augusta National Golf Course.

“I’m honored and humbled to be named the ACC Golf of the Year and to the All-ACC team for the second time in my career,” said Woad. “There are so many people who have made these awards so special including all of my coaches, Coach Bond, Coach Duck, Coach Heisey, and Coach Jones. My heart is so full of appreciation to all of my teammates who have been so supportive of me this spring. Without my teammates and their confidence and complete support throughout the year, my success would not have been possible. To so many people, I say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Woad and Ting are both ranked in the top 15 in the nation. Florida State is the only team in the ACC to have multiple players ranked in the nation’s top 15.

Ting enters NCAA regional championship play on Monday for the second time in her career ranked 15th nationally and as the third-highest ranked golfer in the ACC. She is ranked second in the team with a 71.07 stroke average. She won the individual championship of the Valspar Augusta Invitational on March. Ting is a total of 10 strokes under par and has earned four top-seven finishes in four collegiate events as a Seminole.

Ting finished in a tie for eighth place in the standings at the AWNA. She finished with a 1-over par score of 217. Her score included a 69 in the first round of the championship.

“Earning All-ACC honors is a great accomplishment for me and our team,” said Ting. “The way my teammates have accepted me onto the team in my first year as a Seminole has allowed me to understand what Coach Bond’s program is all about – it’s about family. I’m so happy that we get to continue our season at regionals next week. It’s going to be an exciting time for all of us as teammates and a family.”

Florida State begins play in its 18th consecutive regional championship at the Spanish Trail Country Club and Golf Course in Las Vegas on Monday.

“We are thrilled for Lottie and Mirabel for their honors and accomplishments,” said Bond. “There is work ahead of us, and we have to focus on being at our best at Spanish Trail. This is a confident bunch entering regionals; we have worked hard to get ready for this time of the year. We have to focus on what we can control and play Florida State golf over three rounds next week. We are all excited to get out west.”

2024 All-ACC Selections

ACC Golfer of the Year: Lottie Woad, Florida State
Freshman of the Year: Macy Pate, Wake Forest
Coach of the Year: Kim Lewellen, Wake Forest

2024 All-ACC Team

Lottie Woad, Florida State
Mirabel Ting, Florida State
Rachel Kuehn, Wake Forest
Amanda Sambach, Virgina
Carolina Lopez-Chacarra, Wake Forest
Sara Byrne, Miami
Macy Pate, Wake Forest
Emma McMyler, Duke
Megan Streicher, North Carolina
Mimi Rhodes, Wake Forest
Lauren Olivares, NC State
Katie Li, Duke
Chloe Holder, Clemson
Annabelle Pancake, Clemson
Lauren Beaudreau, Notre Dame

Florida State’s All-Time All-ACC Selections

1992 - Erica Firnhaber
1993 - Marie-Josee Rouleau
1994 - Karen Stupples
1995 - Karen Stupples
1998 - Amy Bond
2001 - Kristin Tamulis, Louise Wright
2002 - Kristin Tamulis
2003 - Kristin Tamulis
2004 - Caroline Larsson, Katie Quinney
2005 - Jaclyn Burch
2006 - Caroline Westrup
2007 - Caroline Westrup
2008 - Caroline Westrup
2009 - Caroline Westrup
2010 - Lacy Agnew, Macarena Silva
2011 - Maria Salinas
2012 - Maria Salinas
2013 - Jessica Negron
2014 - Matilda Castren, Alex Milan
2015 - Lydia Gumm
2016 - Matilda Castren, Kim Metraux
2017 - Matilda Castren, Lydia Gumm, Kim Metraux, Morgane Metraux
2018 - Amanda Doherty, Morgane Metraux
2019 - Frida Kinhult, Beatrice Wallin
2020 - None selected
2021 - Charlotte Heath, Beatrice Wallin
2022 - Charlotte Heath, Beatrice Wallin, Amelia Williamson
2023 - Charlotte Heath, Lottie Woad, Amelia Williamson
2024 - Mirabel Ting, Lottie Woad

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