Much like Stetson controlled the opener, Florida State commanded the rematch.
The Seminoles advanced to the Tallahassee Regional finals with an 11-3 win over the Hatters on May 16 at Joanne Graf Field.
One day earlier, Stetson provided the first big upset of the 2026 NCAA softball tournament by slashing FSU 8-3. But following their first meeting, Stetson dropped back-to-back contests, and Florida State rebounded with two straight wins to arrange its date with UCF.
The Hatters closed their season with a 37-22 record.
Here are three takeaways:
1. FSU second inning proves tough to overcome
The Seminoles (51-9) already led 2-0 after an Anne Hinde RBI single and a Bella Ruggiero fielder’s choice in the first inning.
But they blew the tilt open in the second.
Florida State rattled off seven consecutive hits before the Hatters secured an out. In that timespan, it struck for five runs, with Jaysoni Beachum blasting a grand slam and Ashtyn Danley following with a solo shot to make it 7-0.
Danley headlined the Seminoles’ afternoon. The junior became the second player in program history to slug three home runs in a game. She finished with four hits and five RBIs, and also chipped in four innings of one-run ball in the circle.
2. Hatters’ scoring begins with Nicole Edmiaston homer
Stetson trimmed the deficit to as small as 7-3 in the fourth inning.
In the third, ASUN Player of the Year Nicole Edmiaston extended her program high mark with her 23rd home run of the spring. The Hatters continued to show life after the dinger when Annabella McClerren singled and Irianis Garcia drove her in with a double.
In the fourth, they loaded the bases with one out, and Gia Napoli drew a walk to cut the margin to four runs and create a chance to pull even closer.
But the next batter, Edmiaston, grounded into a double play to end the threat.
3. Hayley Arnold steadies Stetson in circle
During the second inning, the Hatters used three pitchers. Starter Kennedy Temples and Ava Braswell failed to record an out before Hayley Arnold subbed in.
The sophomore right-hander slowed the pace. She escaped the frame without any further damage and proceeded to toss 5⅔ innings, surrendering just two runs and turning in her second solid outing against FSU in as many days.
Arnold fanned one batter. She also walked one and gave up seven hits.
She was removed with two outs in the seventh, so senior Caitlyn Kulczyski could participate in her first NCAA Tournament game.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Stetson vs. FSU: 3 key takeaways from NCAA softball tournament rematch
Reporting by Chris Vinel, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
