Seminole Sunday Sauce — Feb. 11, 2024: FSU Softball Clinches Winning Graf Classic
With one game remaining for the week, Florida State softball will enjoy a winning JoAnne Graf Classic.
Things started in less than thrilling fashion as the third-ranked Seminoles fell to Charlotte in 10 innings in the season opener on Thursday night in Tallahassee, 6-5. FSU, however, bounced back in a big way the following day with an 11-0 win over the 49ers that took just five innings on Friday night.
Kalei Harding homered twice, including a grand slam, to finish with seven RBIs in the first victory of the year for the Seminoles. Michaela Edenfield went 3-for-3 with a run scored in the win. Allison Royalty went four shutout innings to earn the victory.
Like the opener, the first game on Saturday had no shortage of drama as the Seminoles rallied to beat Texas Tech in walk-off fashion, 9-8. Trailing 8-7 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Isa Torres ripped a 2-run walk-off single. Jahni Kerr finished with four RBIs while Amaya Ross hit her first home run of the season.
FSU closed Saturday with an easy 9-0 victory over Florida A&M in five innings. Jaysoni Beachum and Edenfield each homered in the victory. Mimi Gooden allowed just three hits in five shutout innings to pick up her first career win.
Now 3-1 for the season, FSU will wrap up the JoAnne Graf Classic with a second straight game against the Rattlers. FSU will begin the Clearwater Invitational on Thursday.
FOOTBALL
Record: 13-1
Ranking: No. 6 AP Poll; No. 6 USA Today Coaches Poll
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 12 nationally, third in ACC (23 total commitments)
Wrap-up: It was a quiet National Signing Day for the Seminoles, who exit with a top-15 class.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 13-10 (7-5 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (1-1), beat Boston College on Tuesday, 63-62; lost to Virginia on Saturday, 80-76
Upcoming: at Virginia Tech (Tuesday); vs. Duke (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2024 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 85 nationally, 15th in ACC (1 total commitment)
Wrap-up: FSU picked up a nice road win in Massachusetts, but the NIT looks like its best hope.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 16 CSCAA; women N/A
Past Week: Participated in Auburn First Chance Invite on Friday and Saturday
Upcoming: ACC Championships (Feb. 20-25)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU will now prepare for the ACC Championships.
Women’s Basketball
Record: 17-7 (8-4 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (2-0), beat Miami on Sunday, 75-68; beat Pittsburgh on Thursday, 76-60
Upcoming: vs. Notre Dame (Sunday); at Wake Forest (Thursday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: Following a midseason slump, FSU has now won three straight.
Men’s Tennis
Record: 5-2
Ranking: No. 22 ITA
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: vs. Oklahoma (Sunday); at Holy Cross (Wednesday); at Boston College (Wednesday)
Recognitions: Loris Pourroy and Youcef Rihane (ACC Doubles Team of the Week)
Wrap-up: FSU should get a pretty good test on Sunday before opening ACC play later in the week.
Women’s Tennis
Record: 4-2
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (2-0), beat UAB on Saturday, 7-0; beat Georgia State on Saturday, 4-0
Upcoming: vs. Tennessee (Feb. 18)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU had a nice bounce-back week with two shutouts.
Track and Field
Ranking: Men No. 12 USTFCCCA, No. 1 South Region; women No. 9 South Region
Past Week: Participated in New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Florida Last Chance (Friday), David Hemery Valentine Invite (Friday and Saturday) and Tiger Paw Invitational (Friday and Saturday)
Upcoming: ACC Indoor Championships (Feb. 22-24)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: It was a crazy week for FSU with four events.
Men’s Golf
Ranking: No. 12 GCAA Coaches Poll
Past Week: Competed in Thomas Sharkey Individual Collegiate; finished seventh at Amer Ari Invitational
Upcoming: Watersound Invitational (Feb. 19-21)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU overcame a shaky second round to finish seventh this week.
Women’s Golf
Ranking: No. 10 WGCAA Coaches Poll
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: Moon Invitational (Sunday-Feb. 20)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: After a victory and a week off, FSU will head to Melbourne.
Softball
Record: 3-1
Ranking: No. 3 Softball America; No. 4 USA Softball; No. 4 D1Softball; No. 3 USA TODAY/NFCA
Past Week: (3-1), lost to Charlotte in JoAnne Graf Classic in 10 innings on Thursday, 6-5; beat Charlotte in JoAnne Graf Classic in Friday in five innings, 11-0; beat Texas Tech in JoAnne Graf Classic on Saturday, 9-8; beat Florida A&M in JoAnne Graf Classic on Saturday in five innings, 9-0
Upcoming: vs. Florida A&M (Sunday, JoAnne Graf Classic); vs. Stanford (Thursday, Clearwater Invitational); vs. UCLA (Friday, Clearwater Invitational); vs. Georgia (Saturday, Clearwater Invitational)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU overcame a disappointing effort in the season opener to win three straight in its home tournament.
Baseball
Record: 0-0
Ranking: N/A
Upcoming: vs. Butler (Friday); vs. Butler (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: The wait is over. FSU kicks off the 2024 season this week.
Beach Volleyball
Record: 0-0
Ranking: N/A
Upcoming: at Jacksonville (Dolphin Duels, Feb. 23)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU beach volleyball will be the final FSU team to kick off its season later this month.
*Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite rankings
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
