Softball FSU begins road trip to Jacksonville, then heads west to Oregon

[Bob Ferrante]

FSU sports information:

The No. 8 Florida State softball team (16-3) begins a long road trip as they will head to Jacksonville tomorrow to face Jacksonville (11-7) and UNF (17-6) in doubleheader at the UNF Softball Complex at 3 p.m. The game against Jacksonville will not be streamed, but the game against UNF can be seen on ESPN+.

The Noles will then travel to Eugene, Oregon, for the Jane Sanders Classic where they will face Oregon State (9-10) and No. 14 Oregon (20-1). The Noles will play Oregon State and Oregon in a doubleheader beginning at 6:30 p.m. eastern on Friday. The Noles will then play Oregon State at 4 p.m. on Saturday and Oregon at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. All games of the Jane Sanders Classic can be seen on BTN+. Fans can purchase a subscription here.

FSU will round out the road trip when they face Portland State (4-16) in Portland on Tuesday, Mar. 11 in a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. The games against the Vikings can be seen on ESPN+.

Noles Gear Up For Long Road Trip

• FSU will be on the road for eight-consecutive days as they will head to Jacksonville to take on Jacksonville University and North Florida on Wednesday before heading west to Oregon as they will face Oregon and Oregon State in the Jane Sanders Classic before traveling to Portland to take on Portland State.
• Jacksonville is currently 11-7 this season but have won 9 of its last 12 games after losing four of its first six games.
• North Florida is off to a great start with a 17-6 record and is coming off a 3-2 record at the Charge On Classic in Orlando.
• Oregon State is currently 9-10 and is coming off a big win against Arizona State this past weekend.
• The Ducks are off to a great start with a 20-1 record with ranked wins over Tennessee and Missouri. Oregon’s one loss came to Arizona State on Feb. 13.
• Portland State is currently 4-16 this year.

Noles’ History Against the Field

• FSU has a combined record of 37-6 against Jacksonville and North Florida including a 14-3 combined record in Jacksonville.
• FSU has played Oregon State just three times and the two times have not played since 2011 at the Mary Nutter Classic. FSU will be looking for its first win over the Beavers.
• The Seminoles and Ducks have had their run of high-stakes matchups over the year. The teams last met in the WCWS in 2018 where FSU defeated the Ducks twice in elimination games on its way to the National Championship. Oregon leads the series 9-6 and FSU will be looking for its first win over the Ducks in Eugene.

Noles Dominate In All Facets at Dugout Club Classic

• In five games at the Dugout Club Classic, the Seminoles dominated in all five games on their way to a 5-0 weekend.
• FSU won five games via the run rule and outscored its opponents 61-5 in the five games.
• The offense was spectacular as they scored 61 runs in 26 innings including putting up 11 and 12 runs in back-to-back innings in the fourth inning of the game against Mercer on Feb. 28 and the first inning of the game against Mercer on Mar. 1.
• FSU’s 19 runs against Mercer were the third-most in school history and their 18 hits against the Bears was tied for the fourth-most in school history.
• Every player that recorded an at bat over the weekend recorded a hit.
• The Noles were great in the circle as they allowed just four earned runs in five games and struck out 34 batters compared to just two walks. The Noles gave up just two extra-base hits all weekend.

Noles Off to Good Start in 2025

• FSU has gotten off to a great start in 2025 with an 16-3 record and is ranked in the top 10 in all major polls.
• FSU has won 16 games this season and 11 of them have come via the run rule.
• After dropping the first game of the season to No. 4 Oklahoma State, FSU won 11-consecutive games, six via run rule, and outscored its opponents 92-17 during the 11-game stretch.
• FSU’s run-rule win over No. 4 Oklahoma State was the second time FSU has run ruled a top-five opponent. The only other time FSU run ruled a top-five opponent was Feb. 8, 2020, against No. 1 Alabama.
• FSU also run ruled No. 16 Missouri in the first game of the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational. FSU’s run-rule wins over No. 4 Oklahoma State and No. 16 Missouri was the first time FSU has run ruled ranked opponents in back-to-back games.
• FSU has had two instances where they have had five-consecutive run-rule wins this season. FSU won five games via run rule from Feb. 8-15 and again from Feb. 27-Mar. 1. Both of those streaks are tied for the second-longest in school history and the longest since 2019.
• The Noles finished the Clearwater Invitational undefeated with a 4-0 record. FSU finished undefeated at the Clearwater Invitational for the third time which is a tournament record.
• FSU is one of eight teams to rank in the top 20 in both runs per game and earned run average. FSU leads the ACC and ranks seventh in the country with 8.74 runs per game and ranks 19th in the country with a 2.05 ERA.

Noles’ Offense Picking Up Right Where It Left Off in 2024

• After posting one of the top offenses in program history in 2024, FSU has picked up right where they left off and are off to a blistering start in 2025.
• FSU leads the ACC with 8.74 runs per game which also ranks seventh in the entire country.
• The Noles are hitting. 378 as a team which ranks third in the ACC and seventh in the entire country.
• FSU ranks in the top 20 nationally in batting average (7th), hits (19th), home runs (17th), on base percentage (7th), RBI (10th), runs per game (7th), slugging percentage (5th), total runs (14th), triples (4th) and walks (18th).
• In 2024, FSU scored 456 runs last season which was the second-most in FSU history and was just four runs short of breaking the school record.
• FSU broke the 2019 team’s batting average record as the Noles hit .332 last season.
• FSU also hit the second-most home runs in school history with 89, trailing the 2019 team that hit 105 home runs.
• Noles Getting great production in the circle
• Under the guidance of Head Coach Lonni Alameda, the FSU pitching staff looks to be back to its regular self through the first nine games of the season.
• The Noles have been pitching by committee this season as four pitchers have pitched more than 20 innings with no pitcher pitching more than 30 innings. The Noles have three pitchers who have a 2.00 ERA or lower.
• As a team, FSU has posted a 2.05 ERA which ranks 19th in the country and third in the ACC.
• FSU has been terrific at pounding the zone as they lead the ACC and rank 10th in the entire country in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.96).
• FSU has surrendered just 27 walks this season which is the fifth-fewest among Power 4 schools.

Plenty Of Reasons for Optimism for the Noles

• After a rare absence from the Women’s College World Series in 2024, FSU is looking to get back to its winning ways in 2025 and have the pieces to do so.
• Since 2014, FSU has never had back-to-back seasons where they did not make the Women’s College World Series (excluding 2020 when the WCWS was not held due to COVID-19).
• FSU returns two NFCA All-Americans in Jaysoni Beachum and Michaela Edenfield. The last time FSU returned two or more NFCA All-Americans was in 2018 when Jessi Warren and Morgan Klaevmann returned from All-America campaigns in 2017. FSU went on to win the National Championship in 2018.
• The Noles also added some key pieces and depth in the circle as they hope to continue the great pitching legacy under Head Coach Lonni Alameda.
• FSU returned 915.2 innings between all six of their pitchers which is the second-most returning innings in the country behind Texas A&M.
• FSU returns Second Team All-ACC pitcher Ashtyn Danley who led the Noles in innings pitched in the 2024 season. 2023 All-ACC performer Makenna Reid returns for the Noles and is healthy following a back injury late in the 2024 season. FSU also returns Mimi Gooden who pitched 54.1 innings for the Noles as a freshman in 2024 and came on late in the postseason.
• FSU adds three key pieces to the circle in transfers Julia Apsel (Hofstra) and Annabelle Widra (Auburn).and also freshman Jazzy Francik. Apsel and Widra have combined to throw 617.1 innings in their collegiate careers. Francik was ranked a top 10 pitcher coming out of high school by Softball America.
• FSU also brings in the No. 5 recruiting class in the country in Francik, Addie DeLong, Shelby McKenzie and Isabella Ruggiero.

Torres Having Great Start at the Top of Seminoles’ Lineup

• Isa Torres has had a great start for the Seminoles this season and has shifted nicely into the leadoff position of the Seminoles’ lineup.
• Torres is hitting .540 with five home runs and 19 RBI. Her .540 average leads the ACC and ranks eighth in the country.
• Torres leads the ACC with 34 hits. That mark ranks sixth in the entire country
• Torres has been FSU’s leadoff hitter in 16 of the 19 games this season after being in the leadoff position just twice last season.
• Torres has not struck out this season. Torres and Madelyn Lopez from Syracuse are the only two players in the Power 4 to not strike out in 60 or more at bats.
• Torres also leads the team with five stolen bases.
• Torres finished 2024 with a .356 batting average alone with nine home runs and 57 RBI. Her 57 RBI are tied for the second-most ever by a FSU freshman behind Beachum. Her nine home runs were the fourth-most by a FSU freshman and her .356 batting average was the sixth-highest average by a FSU freshman.
• Torres was rock solid at shortstop for the Noles as she started 61 games at the position where she had just seven errors in 191 attempts.
• Torres earned Second Team All-ACC honors and was ranked the 19th overall player by Softball America and the 29th overall player by D1Softball.

Kennedy Harp Off to Hot Start for the Noles

• Kennedy Harp has burst onto the scene for the Seminoles this season.
• Harp is hitting .509 with five home runs, 27 RBI, five doubles and seven triples. 17 out of her 29 hits this season have been for extra bases.
• Harp’s seven triples leads the country and is already tied for the 10th most ever in a single season in program history.
• Harp recorded a RBI in each of her first 10 games. Her RBI streak of 10 games is the longest streak in program history.
• Harp also recorded a hit in her first 14 games.
• Harp is second behind Torres in the ACC in batting average (.50) and leads the conference in slugging percentage (1.105) and on base percentage (.594).
• Harp’s 19 RBI in her first 10 games is the second-most ever in FSU history. Maddie O’Brien had 21 RBI through 10 games.
• Harp has already surpassed her 2024 season totals for home runs, hits and RBI.
• At the Clearwater Invitational, Harp was 9-for-12 (.750) with three home runs and eight RBI.
• Harp ended the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge with a .667 average (10-for-15), 10 RBI, three triples, two doubles, one home run and four runs. She was named ACC Player of the Week following her performance in Puerto Vallarta.

Beachum Looks to Continue to be One of Top Hitters in the Country

• Jaysoni Beachum put up some of the best numbers in FSU history last season as a freshman.
• Beachum hit .417 last season which was the third-best mark in FSU history and was the highest batting average ever by a freshman in FSU history.
• Beachum drove in 66 runs which broke the FSU freshman record and was the most RBI in a season by a Seminole since Jessi Warren in 2018. Beachum also hit 16 home runs which was tied for the sixth-most ever in FSU history.
• Beachum was named the TUCCI/NFCA National Freshman of the Year and earned Second Team All-America honors. Beachum was the first Nole and ACC player to win the award and became the first FSU freshman since Sydney Sherrill to be named a NFCA All-American.
• Beachum was phenomenal at the hot corner for the Noles as she committed just five errors in 154 attempts at third base.
• Beachum is off to a great start as she’s hitting .362 with five home runs and 21 RBI.
• Beachum had 14 RBI in the Dugout Club Classic which was the fourth-most in the country during that week.

Edenfield Continues To Build Off 2024 Campaign

• After posting her most consistent season in 2024, Edenfield is off to a great start in 2025.
• Edenfield is third on the team with a .435 batting average with four home runs and 22 RBI while drawing a team-high 13 walks.
• In her last nine games, Edenfield is 12-for-24 (.500) with three home runs and 16 RBI.
• Out of her 20 hits this season, 10 of them have resulted in a RBI.
• Edenfield recorded a hit in eight out of her first 10 at bats at the Clearwater Invitational including a great performance against Wichita State where she went 4-for-4 with one home run and three RBI. Her four hits were the most in a game in her career.
• Edenfield hit a career-best .381 last season, which was second on the team, to go along with her 15 home runs and 46 RBI.
• Edenfield has hit 48 career home runs which ranks third in FSU history. Edenfield needs six home runs to pass Maddie O’Brien for second. Jessi Warren holds the school record with 83 career home runs.
• Edenfield’s 48 career home runs is tied for fifth among active D1 players.
• Edenfield is tied for fifth all-time in FSU history with 174 RBI.
• Edenfield posted a slugging percentage of .806 last year which was the fourth-best mark in school history. In her career, Edenfield is slugging .669 which is currently second in FSU history.
• Edenfield also ranks in the top 10 in school history for career walks.
• Edenfield earned Third Team NFCA All-America honors for the first time in her career and was also named First Team All-ACC for the first time in her career.
• In her first two seasons, Edenfield has recorded two 50+ RBI seasons. Edenfield is one of just seven Seminoles who have ever recorded two 50+ RBI seasons as a Seminole.
• Edenfield joined Jessi Warren and Sydney Sherrill as the only Seminoles to have 50+ RBI in their first two seasons in the Garnet and Gold.

Widra Leading the Noles in the Circle in Her Final Season

• After pitching just 41.2 innings last season, Widra has been phenomenal in her 23 innings she’s pitched for FSU this season.
• In those 23 innings, Widra has allowed just three earned runs for a 0.91 ERA.
• Widra has been phenomenal at throwing strikes this season as she has allowed just two walks compared to 15 strikeouts.
• Widra has allowed just four extra base hits this season.

Danley Coming On Strong for the Seminoles

• Ashtyn Danley came on strong for the Noles late in the 2024 season and took the role as the Noles’ top pitcher as injuries decimated the FSU pitching staff. As 2025 begins, Danley looks to take another step in a loaded and experience pitching room.
• Danley has been great the last two weekends, not only in the circle but in the batter’s box as well.
• In four out of her last five appearances, Danley has not allowed a run while striking out 22 batters.
• In the last 10 games, Danley holds a 1.49 ERA in 19 innings with 25 strikeouts.
• Danley has also come on strong offensively in her last 10 games. She’s record six hits in her last 15 at-bats including two doubles.
• Danley had a great weekend at the JoAnne Graf Classic as she pitched a team-high 14 innings with a 2-0 record. Danley struck out 19 batters in three appearances including a career-high nine strikeouts in a seven inning relief appearance against SE Louisiana where she allowed just one hit.
• Danley made a team-high 21 starts and pitched a team-high 142.1 innings for the Noles in 2024.
• Danley finished the season with an 18-6 record and a 3.20 ERA, but as the season went on, Danley continued to improve.
• In her final 28 appearances of 2024, Danley posted a 2.42 era in 96 innings.

Apsel Brings Valued Experience to Noles Pitching Staff

• Apsel brings a lot of experience in the circle after three seasons at Hofstra.
• Apsel has been great for the Seminoles this season. She holds a 3-0 record in nine appearances. Apsel holds a 1.58 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.
• Apsel has pitched 440.2 innings in her collegiate career with a 2.49 career ERA and 335 strikeouts.
• Apsel had her best season last year as she posted a 1.39 ERA.
• Apsel pitched 20 complete games which ranked 15th in the country in 2024.
• Apsel performed phenomenally against Power Five opponents this season. Against the NCAA Tournament qualifying Penn State Nittany Lions, Apsel threw 6.1 innings and allowed just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out three. Against the National Runner-Up Texas Longhorns, Apsel pitched 6.0 innings and allowed just four runs to one of the nation’s top offenses. Apsel and the Pride were one of just two non-Power Five teams to hold Texas to five runs or less this season and was one of three unranked teams to hold the Longhorns to under five runs this season. Maybe Apsel’s most impressive performance of the 2024 season came against Missouri who entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 7 overall seed and was one win away from the Women’s College world Series. Apsel shut down the Tigers as she pitched all nine innings of the thriller and allowed just two runs on four hits to the Tigers while striking out six.

Francik Looking Good in the Garnet and Gold

• A true freshman and one of the best high school pitcher in Florida, Jazzy Francik has been as good as advertised so far this season.
• Francik has made three starts and pitched 25 innings and with a 2-1 record and a 2.80 ERA.
• Francik has struck out 25 batters compared to four walks.
• Francik is 2-1 and has recorded a save. She joined Bailey Schinella (2012) as the only freshmen to record a win and a save in their first two college appearances.

Full Speed Ahead: Ross Coming Off Breakout Season

• Fans have known the name Amaya Ross for a while but mainly for her insane speed on the base paths, but in 2024, Ross proved she was more than just speed posting her best season at the plate and in the field.
• Ross started all 62 games in 2024 after making just 18 starts her first two seasons.
• Ross hit .322 with eight home runs and 30 RBI. Ross also hit seven triples which was tied for 10th all time in FSU history.
• Ross was once again deadly on the base paths with an ACC-leading 28 steals on 31 attempts. In her career, Ross is 63-for-69 on stolen base attempts.

Kerr Ready for Final Season in the Garnet and Gold

• Jahni Kerr has been a consistent staple in the Noles’ lineup the last three seasons and 2025 looks to be no different.
• Kerr is a two-time All-ACC performer as she earned First Team All-ACC honors in 2023 and Third Team honors in 2024.
• Kerr has played in 182 games for the Noles while making 173. Kerr has a career batting average of .310 with 24 home runs and 116 RBI.
• Last season, Kerr hit .308 with 9 home runs and 39 RBI.
• This year, Kerr is hitting .289 with two home runs and nine RBI.

Dack Giving the Noles Great Production

• Katie Dack has had a great start to 2025 as she has been giving the Noles quality and consistent at bats to start the 2025 season.
• So far in 2025, Dack is hitting .300 with four home runs and 15 RBI.
• Dack has drawn a team-high 11 walks and recorded two sacrifice flies against UCF.
• Dack hit a first inning grand slam against Louisiana Tech to lead the Noles to a 6-3 victory over Louisiana Tech. Dack hit another home run against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
• Last season, Dack had just three home runs and 10 RBI.
• Dack was named to the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge All-Tournament Team.