After surrendering a home run, No. 8 Florida State softball defense slammed the door the rest of the night.
The Seminoles shut down rival Florida over the remaining six innings to secure a 3-1 victory in their final home game of the season at JoAnne Graf Field, a signature win that boosted their NCAA RPI and strengthened their bid to host regional and super regional play.
“They are a quality team,” head coach Lonni Alameda said.
“I think for our program, what we’ve learned out on the West Coast and how we need to be together and stay together and compete against a quality team, pitch-by-pitch. That was tonight. I think that a great feeling that we raised the bar for our program right now.”
Florida State answered immediately at the plate. Leadoff hitter Isa Torres set the tone once again, blasting a solo home run in the bottom of the first to tie the game. The junior struck again two innings later, launching her second solo shot of the night to give the Seminoles the lead for good.
Torres was thrilled to get a key win in a playoff-like atmosphere.
“That’s how you get a good game and a postseason environment,” Torres said. “I’m super proud of us and thankful for our fans,” Torres said.
The Seminoles’ defense took control from there. Despite allowing seven hits, Florida never crossed home plate again. Florida State turned multiple double plays and flashed leather across the infield, snuffing out scoring chances and preserving shutout innings after the opening frame.
Florida State added an insurance run in the fourth inning when Shelby McKenzie delivered an RBI single, driving in Kennedy Harp to extend the lead to 3-1.
Jazzy Francik got the start in the circle for the Seminoles, working three innings before handing the ball to Ashtyn Danley. Danley steadied the game in relief and closed it out, earning her ninth victory of the season.
The victory marked a fitting sendoff at JoAnne Graf Field for a Seminoles team vying for postseason positioning down the stretch.
What’s next for FSU softball
Florida State wraps up the regular season entirely on the road. The Seminoles open a road swing this weekend at Georgia Tech. Then will travel to Gainesville for another meeting with Florida next Tuesday. The regular season concludes the following week at Boston College.
How to watch FSU softball vs. Georgia Tech
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: No. 13 FSU softball’s defense slams door on No. 8 Florida in key rivalry win
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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