Florida State scratched out just enough offense and leaned on a sharp pitching performance to slip past Georgia Tech 2-1 in the ACC quarterfinals and advance to the semifinals.
The Seminoles will face the winner of Louisville-Stanford in Friday’s semifinal at Palmer Park, scheduled for 1 p.m.
After two scoreless innings, Georgia Tech broke through first with a sacrifice fly in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Florida State answered in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single from Anna Hinde to even the score.
Despite limited production at the plate, the Seminoles capitalized on a key opportunity in the fifth. After loading the bases, Florida State managed the go-ahead run when Bella Ruggerio was hit by a pitch, forcing in what proved to be the decisive run.
Florida State’s defense and pitching carried the rest of the way, holding Georgia Tech to three hits and one run.
Jazzy Francik earned the win, allowing one run over 5⅔ innings while striking out four. Danley secured the save, closing out the final four outs to preserve the victory.
The Seminoles had chances to extend their lead but left runners stranded, including the bases-loaded situation in the fifth that produced only one run.
Even so, the pitching staff made it stand, sending Florida State into the ACC semifinals.
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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: FSU softball outlasts Georgia Tech, moves to ACC semifinals
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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