FSU Softball rolls into home tournament after dominant 8-game stretch

The Florida State softball team has been red hot ever since its opening-game loss to Oklahoma State, rattling off eight straight victories, with five of those ending early due to the run rule.

After going 4-1 in Mexico to open the year, the Seminoles swept their competition at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater invitational, beating No. 16 Missouri 9-1, Ohio State 9-1, Wichita State 15-5, and UCF 8-1.

As impressive as the wins have been, Florida State coach Lonni Alameda said she has been most pleased by the way the Seminoles have attacked each day since that opener.

“I think we’ve been really big on the process piece and the execution piece,” Alameda said. “We’ve worked really hard in executing pitching and defense and baserunning and hitting at the same time. To see those start to come together against some high-level pitching in teams that we were playing, I think that’s something that we talked about after game one with Oklahoma State; we were better than what we showed. And can we be more consistent coming to the park every day?

“So not so much on the win side of it — it’s awesome to have the wins — but just the process piece. Their ability to adjust in the batter’s box against some of the [teams] that we’re playing.”

One of the most stunning wins so far was Florida State’s run-rule victory over the Wichita State Shockers. The Seminoles found themselves trailing 5-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, and they ended up rolling to a 15-5 romp.

“You want to get challenged early on to see what you’re made of,” Alameda said. “So, of course, everyone wants wins and wants a lot of runs. But the reality is when you get to the end of the season, you are going to face really good competition, and there’s going to be times when you’re down. So do you know what it’s like to fight? Do you know what it’s like to make adjustments to stay in it? So I think that was just a really good characteristic for us to see as a coaching staff, but as a team general.”

The story for Florida State so far has been the offense. The Seminoles are No. 5 in the country in team batting average and No. 3 in home runs per game.

Star slugger Michaela Edenfield got off to a bit of a slow start in the Mexico tournament, but like the rest of the team, she broke out in Clearwater. The Seminoles’ catcher delivered nine RBIs, eight hits, five runs and three home runs.

Edenfield now has 44 career home runs, just three shy of moving into third all-time in FSU history. And she said a key to her turnaround was working to stop putting so much pressure on herself as a fifth-year senior.

“Settling back and [remembering] what makes me me — and what I can do for my teammates,” Edenfield said. “I think that kind of resulted in my at-bats in Clearwater [improving]. Just actually breathing and doing what I can do.”

Senior outfielder Katie Dack also is off to a strong start with three homers and 11 RBIs so far this season, and she believes Florida State’s offensive onslaught has become contagious within the team.

“We know what each of us is trying to accomplish,” Dack said. “And when we see each other do that, we get really excited and happy for one another. And seeing that really does give us confidence to go up there and execute our plans.”

Now, Florida State will return home to “The Plex” for the first time this year. The Seminoles will kick things off today with FAMU at 3:30 p.m.

“Obviously being in your own bed, eating your own food … there’s a special friendly confines here at The Plex of our people, and I think we’re excited for that part of it,” Alameda said. “But this team is unshakable. They’ve been in a lot of different situations. I’m just excited that they can do what they do wherever they’re at, so that’s pretty nice. But yeah, to be here in front of our fans is pretty exciting.”

On Friday, the Seminoles will play a doubleheader against Southeast Louisiana (3 p.m., 5:30 p.m.). Then the Seminoles will host a major doubleheader showdown against No. 6 Texas A&M on Saturday, starting at 3 p.m.

“Texas A&M is returning a lot of players that have been in big games …,” Alameda said. “We’re going to face very good pitching in the circle; they have a lot of good arms. … Power hitting, picked up some power hitters — lefty, righty — and then they bring speed. So if they’re not gonna hit the long ball, they are going to go for the short game. So we’d better be prepared for it all.”

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