No. 10 Florida State softball erupted for six first‑inning runs and never trailed Sunday, closing out its first ACC series of the season with an 11–6 win over Syracuse to complete a weekend sweep at the Seminole Softball Complex.
FSU (25-4, 3-0) wasted no time building its cushion. After Isa Torres opened the bottom of the first with a bunt single, Jaysoni Beachum followed with a two‑run homer. Sophomore Ashtyn Danley broke the game open moments later with her first career grand slam, giving the Seminoles a 6–0 lead. In the third, Shelby McKenzie added a solo shot to extend the margin.
Pitcher Bella Dimitrijevic held Syracuse (11-10, 0-3) scoreless through three innings and matched her career high with six strikeouts. But the Orange clawed back in the fourth, scoring six runs on four hits — including a grand slam by Jadyn Burney — to cut FSU’s lead to 7–6.
The Seminoles quickly answered in the bottom half. Beachum’s RBI double sparked a four‑run response, aided by a Syracuse throwing error that produced an unearned run.
Beachum finished with five RBIs and joined Torres with a team‑high two hits. Torres extended his hitting streak to eight straight multi‑hit games.
Jazzy Francik entered in relief of Marlee Gaskell with the bases loaded in the fourth and struck out the first batter she faced to escape the jam. Francik added three more strikeouts over the final innings to earn her first save of the season.
Gaskell picked up the win, improving to 2–0. Infielders Marin Heller and Beachum contributed with several standout defensive plays to keep the Orange off the bases late.
What’s next for FSU softball
Florida State steps out of conference Wednesday for a ranked showdown with No. 2 Texas Tech at 6 p.m. at home.
It will be the teams’ second meeting this season; the Red Raiders edged the Seminoles 4–3 at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational, .
FSU then returns to ACC play next weekend, opening a home series against Cal on Friday at 6 p.m.
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Ashtyn Danley grand slam fuels No. 10 FSU softball sweep over Syracuse
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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