Florida State University (FSU) softball opened its fall exhibition slate with a 12-2 win over the Northwest Florida State College Raiders on Oct. 10 at JoAnne Graf Field, offering a first look at a deeper pitching staff and early competitions at catcher and second base.
While exhibitions don’t count toward the record, the Seminoles’ first outing emphasized how fall ball will shape and reinforce the team identity that carried the team to a 49-12 record last spring.
The pitching depth headlined the game. Junior left-handed pitcher Ashtyn Danley set the early tone before freshman left-hander Marlee Gaskell, freshman right-handed pitcher Bella Dimitrijevic and junior right-hander Mimi Gooden handed the ball to sophomore right-hander Jazzy Francik for the late innings.
After a soft infield single and an error helped the Raiders score in the first, FSU settled in and did not allow another hit until the sixth. The offense answered with traffic and timely swings, stacking 21 hits with balanced pressure — two home runs, a sacrifice fly and opportunistic steals.
Head Coach Lonni Alameda leaned into a staff-day approach instead of box-score lines, using short, planned stints to layer looks and build volume.
“When you have nine newbies coming in, we really pride ourselves in the connection piece,” Alameda said in an interview with Noles 247. “Just getting to know each other will pay dividends for this year and the years after.”
From the circle out, pitching remains the backbone. Danley returns as a two-way anchor after posting a 1.60 earned run average (ERA) with a 14-2 mark last season. Francik, who went 10-3 with a 1.51 ERA and eight saves as a freshman, profiles as a late-inning option who can also cover clean middle frames.
The depth behind them is larger and greener, which is why the fall schedule matters.
“Being a freshman who could actually be out there was super cool,” Francik said in the interview. “This group coming in can all bring different things to the table and it’ll be interesting to see how we rely on them.”
Those evaluations extend to the spine of the defense. At catcher, redshirt freshman Isabella Ruggiero started the opener and showed first-pitch contact. Freshman catcher Madi Frey took late reps to test tempo and throws under game speed, the first public look at life after former starter Michaela Edenfield turned pro and went to the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.
Second base is similarly open. Alameda rotated options and responsibilities, sliding junior center fielder Makenna Sturgis to the dirt in stretches while junior shortstop Isa Torres toggled between short and second. Reliability on double-play feeds, bunt coverages and communication matter as much as offensive production.
Up the middle, Torres remains the compass. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American sets the standard in reads and relays, and mentors those who claim second. That presence showed after a shaky first, when infield communication tightened and routine outs stayed routine. Torres also contributed a sacrifice fly during the early scoring sequence, reflecting the fall emphasis on situational contact.
The outfield previews a blend of range and speed. Sturgis chopped a single, stole a base and later lined a two-run double. Right fielder Addie DeLong laid out for a catch and beat out a bunt that turned into extra bases on an overthrow. With All-American junior center fielder Kennedy Harp not in the opener, the extra reps carry weight as the staff sorts roles behind her.
The thump is still there, just sequenced differently. Sophomore left fielder Shelby McKenzie launched a solo shot to left-center, and junior third baseman Jaysoni Beachum followed to a similar spot. Rather than chase a carbon copy of last spring’s punch, the ’Noles are intent on layering pressure on top of selective thunder.
The Garnet and Gold also carry a clear throughline from last year’s Tallahassee Super Regional loss to Texas Tech. Alameda praised the 2024 group’s grit and talked about the postseason’s thin margins.
“Our game has grown, and it’s challenging to get to the championship series,” Alameda said in a press conference. “We were all in since September. We’ll hug our seniors, then get on a mission to make them proud next year.”
That mission includes an emphasis on development over the portal.
“We knew we had talented people coming in and wanted to give them a chance to grow,” Alameda said. “Allow these kids to come in and not stunt their growth. We truly believe in their athleticism and their ability to make an impact.”
Florida State continues its fall ball exhibitions throughout October at JoAnne Graf Field, with the next game scheduled for Oct. 16 against Tallahassee State College, followed by a game against Gulf Coast State College on Oct. 17. All exhibition matches are free to attend.
Salette Cambra is the Deputy Sports editor of the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at contact@fsview.com.
This article originally appeared on FSU News: FSU flexes pitching depth in 12-2 fall exhibition vs. Northwest Florida
Reporting by Salette Cambra, Deputy Sports Editor / FSU News
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