FSU sports information:
A seven-run fifth inning helped the No. 9 Florida State softball team (27-5, 4-0) run past No. 18 Duke (21-10, 4-3) in a 12-4 win in five innings on Friday night at Duke Softball Stadium. Friday marked FSU's 15th run-rule victory of the season, and the Noles' second ever run-rule win against Duke and their first run-rule win against Duke since April 26, 2019. FSU is also off to its best start since 2022.
The Noles wasted no time putting pressure on the Blue Devils as Isa Torres drove the first pitch of the game right up the middle to give the Noles an immediate baserunner. Kennedy Harp singled, and Michaela Edenfield walked to load the bases for Katie Dack with one out. Dack hit a fly ball just deep enough to score Torres from third to give the Noles a 1-0 lead. Jahni Kerr singled into left field to give the Noles a 2-0 lead after the top half of the first. Kerr has recorded a hit in six out of her last seven games and is 8-for-12 with five RBI in her last five games.
Duke got one run back in the bottom of the first on an error and hit two two-run home runs in the second and third innings to take a 4-2 lead.
The Noles got back to work in the top of the fourth inning as a Hallie Wacaser single and a bunt single from Annabelle Widra put runners on the corners for the Noles with two outs. Torres was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Jaysoni Beachum who delivered with a huge double into the game to clear the bases and give the Noles a 5-4 lead.
Duke threatened again in the bottom of the fourth, but Jazzy Francik got a groundout to end the inning to keep the lead with the Noles.
The Noles continued its success on offense in the fifth inning as they recorded seven runs on six hits with 12 batters coming to the plate. Edenfield drew a leadoff walk, and Katie Dack hit her ninth home run of the year and her second in as many games to put the Noles up 7-4. Addie DeLong was hit by a pitch, and Wacaser smoked one over the left field fence to extend the lead to five. The onslaught continued as Widra doubled and singles from Torres and Harp put two more runs on the board. Harp eventually scored on a wild pitch to put the Noles up 12-4.
Francik retired the side in order to end the game to give the Noles the run-rule win. Francik picked up the win in the relief performance as she pitched three scoreless innings, recording a strikeout and allowing just two hits. Francik improved to 5-2 this season with the win.
Eight different Noles recorded a hit on the night with Torres, Harp, Edenfield, Kerr, Wacaser and Widra each had multi-hit nights.
Game two of the series will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday on ACCNX.
A seven-run fifth inning helped the No. 9 Florida State softball team (27-5, 4-0) run past No. 18 Duke (21-10, 4-3) in a 12-4 win in five innings on Friday night at Duke Softball Stadium. Friday marked FSU's 15th run-rule victory of the season, and the Noles' second ever run-rule win against Duke and their first run-rule win against Duke since April 26, 2019. FSU is also off to its best start since 2022.
The Noles wasted no time putting pressure on the Blue Devils as Isa Torres drove the first pitch of the game right up the middle to give the Noles an immediate baserunner. Kennedy Harp singled, and Michaela Edenfield walked to load the bases for Katie Dack with one out. Dack hit a fly ball just deep enough to score Torres from third to give the Noles a 1-0 lead. Jahni Kerr singled into left field to give the Noles a 2-0 lead after the top half of the first. Kerr has recorded a hit in six out of her last seven games and is 8-for-12 with five RBI in her last five games.
Duke got one run back in the bottom of the first on an error and hit two two-run home runs in the second and third innings to take a 4-2 lead.
The Noles got back to work in the top of the fourth inning as a Hallie Wacaser single and a bunt single from Annabelle Widra put runners on the corners for the Noles with two outs. Torres was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Jaysoni Beachum who delivered with a huge double into the game to clear the bases and give the Noles a 5-4 lead.
Duke threatened again in the bottom of the fourth, but Jazzy Francik got a groundout to end the inning to keep the lead with the Noles.
The Noles continued its success on offense in the fifth inning as they recorded seven runs on six hits with 12 batters coming to the plate. Edenfield drew a leadoff walk, and Katie Dack hit her ninth home run of the year and her second in as many games to put the Noles up 7-4. Addie DeLong was hit by a pitch, and Wacaser smoked one over the left field fence to extend the lead to five. The onslaught continued as Widra doubled and singles from Torres and Harp put two more runs on the board. Harp eventually scored on a wild pitch to put the Noles up 12-4.
Francik retired the side in order to end the game to give the Noles the run-rule win. Francik picked up the win in the relief performance as she pitched three scoreless innings, recording a strikeout and allowing just two hits. Francik improved to 5-2 this season with the win.
Eight different Noles recorded a hit on the night with Torres, Harp, Edenfield, Kerr, Wacaser and Widra each had multi-hit nights.
Game two of the series will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday on ACCNX.
