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7-Run 5th inning powers No. 10 Florida State to win over No. 17 Duke

by:Jason Rhea•03/21/25
Screenshot 2025-03-21 at 6.05.01 PM
Courtesy of Florida State Athletics

In what could prove to be the biggest series of the year in the ACC, No. 10 Florida State used a huge fifth inning to propel them to a 12-4 run-rule victory over No. 17 Duke. Jaysoni Beachum and Katie Dack both knocked in three runs each for the Seminoles in the win.

The Seminoles did not waste any time getting started in the first inning. Isa Torres and Kennedy Harp singled to start it for Florida State with two on and one out. A walk from Michela Edenfield loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Dack scored Torres to make it 1-0. Jahni Kerr singled in another.

Duke answered right back in their half of the first to cut the lead in half. Much like their counterparts, the Blue Devils got two singles. KK Mathis reached on an error at first base to make the score 2-1.

Marissa Young’s club, which has struggled at the plate at times in 2025, got two more runs across in the second inning. After a Thessa Malau’ulu single, Jada Baker got ahold of one for a two-run home run. The round-tripper was her second of the season and gave the Blue Devils their first lead of the contest at 3-2.

The Blue Devils continued their early inning onslaught in the third with another run. Ana Gold singled and she was brought home with an Amiah Burgess triple to bring the score to 4-2. In addition, that hit knocked Florida State starter Annabelle Widra out of the game. Jazzy Francik came in and retired the side with no additional scoring allowed.

The back-and-forth game by two of the most elite in the conference continued in the 4th inning. Florida State loaded the bases for one of the best sophomores in the game. Like she did so often a year ago, Beachum delivered. A double to the right-center gap scored three runs as the Seminoles re-took the lead, 5-4.

Florida State’s explosive offense finally came to fruition in the fifth inning. The Seminoles struck for seven runs in the inning to break the game open.

The inning started with a pair of two-run home runs by Dack and Hallie Wacaser to give Florida State a 9-4 advantage. After a Widra double, Torres singled up the middle to score her and advance the score to 10-4. Harp followed up with another single that scored Torres for an 11-4 lead. Finally, Harp scored on a wild pitch to make it 12-4 as Duke finally ended the inning.

Francik shut down the Blue Devils in the 5th inning for the run-rule victory for the Seminoles. Francik went three innings allowing just two hits and no runs. Game two of the series is set for 1:00 PM E.T. as Duke looks to even the series and force a rubber match on Sunday.

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