Softball FSU travels to play No. 24 Alabama followed by No. 18 Duke

[Bob Ferrante]

FSU sports information:

The No. 9 Florida State softball team (25-5, 3-0) hits the road this week as it will play four games in five days all against ranked opponents. FSU will head to Tuscaloosa to face No. 24 Alabama (21-9) on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on SEC Network. Chuckie Kempf (Play by Play) and Michele Smith (Color) will be on the call for the primetime matchup. The Noles will then travel to Durham to take on the preseason ACC favorites in No. 18 Duke (19-9, 4-2). Game one is set for 6 p.m. on Friday night on the ACC Network. Saturday's game will begin at 1 p.m., and Sunday's game is set for noon. Both games can be seen live on ACCNX.

Noles Gear Up for Huge Week on The Road

• The Noles hit the road once again for a couple of huge matchups this week as they take on No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Duke.
• Alabama enters Wednesday's primetime matchup 21-9 but have lost three out of its last five games. All three losses have come at home. The Crimson Tide have ranked wins over Washington, Virginia Tech, and Mississippi State.
• FSU will return to Rhodes Stadium for the first time since 2022.
• The Noles have won three out of the last four matchups in Tuscaloosa and have won six out of the last eight overall matchups.
• The last time FSU was in Tuscaloosa, the Noles took down No. 4 Alabama after trailing by three runs two separate times throughout the game. Michaela Edenfield hit the game-tying home run in the top of the sixth inning before the Noles added two more in the top of the seventh to win 6-4.
• The Noles and the Blue Devils have met in the last two ACC Championship games and were picked to finish first and second in the league once again this season.
• Duke is 19-9 this season and 4-2 in the ACC with losses to Clemson and Syracuse. The Blue Devils have ranked wins over Mississippi State, Florida, Nebraska and UCLA.
• A win in Durham would mark FSU's first true road ranked win of the season.

Noles' History Against the Field

• Alabama holds a slight lead in the all-time series as they lead 8-7, but FSU has won six out of the last eight matchups against the Crimson Tide including three out of the last four in Tuscaloosa.
• FSU leads the all-time series with Duke 11-5.
• The two teams have met in the last four ACC Tournaments, splitting those four games 2-2. The teams have also split their four meetings in Durham.

Last Time Out

• FSU opened ACC play with a bang as they swept Pitt at home.
• FSU outscored the Panthers 24-4 in the three games to improve to 11-2 at home.
• Jaysoni Beachum had a nice weekend for the Noles as she went 5-for-8 (.625) with two home runs and four RBI. Jazzy Francik led the way in the circle as she pitched eight scoreless innings in two appearances to pick up a win and a save.

Noles Look to Keep Momentum into Conference Play

• FSU has gotten off to a great start in 2025 with an 25-5 record and is ranked in the top 10 by USA Softball and the NFCA.
• FSU has won 25 games this season and 14 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 has won 14 out of its last 16 games and are outscoring opponents 144-23 in that time period.
• FSU is one of three teams (Florida State, LSU, Tennessee) to rank in the top 10 in both runs per game and earned run average. FSU leads the ACC with 8.30 runs per game and an ERA of just 1.81. FSU's ERA is ranked 5th in the country while their runs per game is ranked 7th in the country.

Starting Fast

• The recipe to success has been fairly simple for the Noles this season: start fast.
• FSU has outscored its opponents 53-10 in the first inning and hold a 16-1 record when they score in the first inning.
• FSU is 20-1 this season when they score first compared to 5-4 when the opponent scores first.
• FSU is 22-1 when they lead after four innings.

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 8.30 runs per game which also ranks 7th in the entire country.
• The Noles are hitting. 368 as a team which ranks second in the ACC and 7th in the entire country.
• The Noles also lead the ACC in hits (294), on base percentage (.456), RBI (231), total runs (249) and walks (117).
• FSU ranks in the top 10 nationally in batting average (7th), hits (3rd), home runs (9th), on base percentage (10th), RBI (4th), runs per game (7th), slugging percentage (7th), total runs (3rd) and triples (3rd.
• 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 Continuing Legacy of Great Pitching

• Under the guidance of Head Coach Lonni Alameda, the FSU pitching staff looks to be back to its regular self through the first 30 games of the season.
• After a 2024 season that saw the Noles post a 3.71 ERA which ranked 150th in the country, FSU has been phenomenal in the circle so far this year.
• The Noles have been pitching by committee this season as four pitchers have pitched more than 35 innings with no pitcher pitching more than 50 innings. The Noles have four pitchers who have a 2.00 ERA or lower and five pitchers with a 2.50 ERA or lower. FSU is the only team in the country to have four pitchers under a 2.00 ERA with at least 35 innings under their belt.
• Ashtyn Danley is third in the ACC with a 1.47 ERA. Julia Apsel is fourth in the ACC with a 1.52 ERA while Annabelle Widra is right behind her with a 1.54 ERA which is fifth in the ACC. Jazzy Francik is seventh in the ACC with a 1.81 ERA.
• As a team, FSU has posted a 1.81 ERA which leads the ACC and is fifth in the entire country.
• FSU has been terrific at pounding the zone as they lead the ACC and rank 5th in the entire country in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.06).
• FSU has surrendered just 35 walks this season which is the fourth-fewest in the entire country.

Not Slowing Down: Kennedy Harp Off to Blazing Start for the Noles

• Kennedy Harp has burst onto the scene for the Seminoles this season to become one of the best hitters in the country.
• Harp is hitting .489 with seven home runs, 40 RBI, six doubles and nine triples. 22 out of her 44 hits this season have been for extra bases.
• Harp's .489 batting average leads the ACC and is 18th in the country. Her 40 RBI is second in the conference and 12th in the country.
• Harp also leads the ACC in slugging percentage (0.989), on base percentage (.571), total runs (38), triples (9) and total bases (89)
• Harp's nine triples leads the country and is tied for the third-most in school history. Harp needs just two triples to tie the school record and three triples to break the school record. Harp is nine triples away from breaking the 21-year old NCAA record.
• Harp has also showed her speed on the base paths as she is 9-for-10 on stolen bases which is second on the team.
• 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.

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 .433 with six home runs and 25 RBI.
• Torres leads the ACC with 45 hits. That mark ranks fifth in the entire country
• Torres has been FSU's leadoff hitter in 27 of the 30 games this season after being in the leadoff position just twice last season.
• Torres has struck out just one time this season in 104 at bats. Torres is the only player in the Power 4 to have just one strike out in 75 or more at bats.
• Torres is also third on the team with eight 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.

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 .402 with a team-high nine home runs and 28 RBI. In her last 10 games, Beachum is hitting .484 with four home runs and six RBI.

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 hitting .375 with five home runs and 29 RBI to go along with 18 walks.
• Out of her 27 hits this season, 15 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 49 career home runs which ranks third in FSU history. Edenfield needs five home runs to pass Maddie O'Brien for second. Jessi Warren holds the school record with 83 career home runs.
• Edenfield's 49 career home runs is tied for sixth among active D1 players.
• Edenfield is fifth all-time in FSU history with 181 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 .665 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 36.1 innings she's pitched for FSU this season.
• In those 36.1 innings, Widra has allowed just eight earned runs for a 1.54 ERA. Her 1.54 ERA is fifth in the ACC.
• Widra has been phenomenal at throwing strikes this season as she has allowed just two walks compared to 26 strikeouts.
• Widra ranks second in the country in walks allowed per seven innings (0.39) and fifth in the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio (13.00). Both marks are first in the ACC.
• Widra has allowed just nine 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 has taken another step in the circle in a very talented pitching room.
• Danley has come on strong the last three weeks not only in the circle but in the batter's box as well.
• In her 17 innings, Danley has allowed just one earned run and has struck out 13 batters compared to just one walk.
• In total, Danley has a 1.47 ERA in 38 innings with 37 strikeouts. Her 1.47 ERA ranks third in the ACC.
• Danley has also come on strong offensively in her last nine games. She's hitting .400 in her last nine games in 20 at bats.
• 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 9-0 record with a 1.52 ERA with 435strikeouts in 41.1 innings.
• Apsel has pitched 455.1 innings in her collegiate career with a 2.46 career ERA and 349 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 pitchers in Florida, Jazzy Francik has been as good as advertised so far this season.
• Francik has made four starts and pitched 46.1 innings and with a 4-2 record and a 1.81 ERA.
• Francik has struck out 47 batters compared to eight walks.
• Francik has recorded five saves this season which is tied for the third-most in program history for a single season.
• In her last nine appearances, Francik has given up just five earned runs in 26 innings while striking out 30.
• Francik's 19 appearances are the most in the ACC and 19th in the country.
• In her first two appearances of her collegiate career, Francik recorded a win and a save. She joined Bailey Schinella (2012) as the only freshmen in FSU history 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 and is off to a solid start in 2025.
• Ross is hitting .321 in 28 games with two home runs and eight RBI. Ross had her best weekend of the season against Pitt where she smacked two home runs in three games and hit .571 on the weekend.
• Ross is a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen bases this season.
• 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 72-for-78 on stolen base attempts.

Kerr Finding Groove Once Again in the Batter's Box

• 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 been hot as of late as she has hit .450 in her last 10 games with five RBI. In two games against Pitt, Kerr was a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBI and one walk.
• Last season, Kerr hit .308 with 9 home runs and 39 RBI.
• This year, Kerr is hitting .286 with two home runs and nine RBI.

Wacaser Having Solid Final Season with the Noles

• Hallie Wacaser has continued to be a consistent hitter for FSU this season.
• In 28 games, Wacaser is hitting .301 with four home runs and 21 RBI, nearly eclipsing her 2024 marks of six home runs and 28 RBI.
• Wacaser hit a clutch home run against in the top of the sixth inning to extend the Noles' lead to 3-1 to help FSU sweep the Panthers.

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 .318 with seven home runs and 21 RBI.
• Dack has also drawn 13 walks.
• Last season, Dack had just three home runs and 10 RBI.
• Dack was named to the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge All-Tournament Team.

Reid Ready for Bounce Back Season Following Injury

• After bursting onto the scene in 2023 to become one of the top relief pitchers in 2023, Reid is ready to take another step following a 2024 season where she battled injuries.
• In 2023, Reid posted a 0.97 ERA in 79.1 innings as she posted a perfect 13-0 record.
• In her career, Reid holds a 27-2 record after going 12-1 last season.
• So far in 2025, Reid holds a 2.39 ERA in 14.2 innings. Reid is coming off her best performance at Portland State where she pitched four scoreless innings and struck out six batters.