No. 5 FSU Softball opens Clearwater Invitational with 4-0 win over No. 9 Stanford

Release from Florida State Sports Information:

A pitching and defensive masterpiece plus some aggressive base running led No. 5 Florida State Softball (5-1) to a 4-0 win over No. 9 Stanford (4-3) on Thursday evening at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater. 

Allison Royalty got the start for the Noles and was terrific as she pitched five scoreless innings while allowing just four hits while striking out three. Royalty found herself in some trouble in the top of the third inning as back-to-back walks and a single loaded the bases for the Cardinal with zero outs. Royalty forced a ground ball to Devyn Flaherty at second, who fired it home for the force out. Royalty struck out the next batter and forced a groundout to end the inning unharmed.

The Cardinal were able to get runners on second and third with two outs in the fourth inning, but freshman shortstop Isa Torres made a leaping catch on a line drive to save two runs and end the inning. 

After four scoreless innings, the Seminoles finally broke through in the fifth inning with three runs. Torres began the inning with an infield single then Jaysoni Beachum drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. A passed ball allowed the runners to advance to second and third.

Jahni Kerr hit a fly ball just deep enough in right field to allow Torres to score. Kaley Mudge reached on an error bring home Beachum to give the Noles a 2-0 lead. Coming in to pinch run for Mudge, Autumn Belviy immediately stole second. On a 2-2 count, Belviy went to steal third, and the throw was high allowing Belviy to score. 

Flaherty began the sixth inning by laying down a great bunt down the third base line to reach first. Flaherty advanced to second on a groundout then scampered to third, then to home on back-to-back wild pitches to extend the lead to 4-0. 

Ashtyn Danley entered the circle in the sixth inning and allowed the leadoff runner to reach base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but she retired the following three batters in both innings to secure the win for the Noles. Danley was credited with her first career save. 

FSU will be back in action at 1 p.m. on Friday when the Seminoles take on No. 20 UCLA on ESPNU.

LIVE UPDATES

Warchant’s Aslan Hajivandi is on location posting live updates from the Florida State softball team’s games in the Clearwater Invitational.

The fifth-ranked Seminoles won their opening game of the tournament on Thursday, 4-0, against ninth-ranked Stanford.

No. 5 FSU vs. No. 9 Stanford — Game Thread

Stay connected with Warchant for post-game coverage.

PREVIEW STORY

The Florida State Seminoles, who are 4-1 on the season, will open up play at the prestigious tournament today at 4 p.m. against No. 9 Stanford. That game will be broadcast on ESPNU.

On Friday at 1 p.m., Florida State will square off against No. 20 UCLA; that game also will air on ESPNU. FSU then will face No. 4 Georgia on Saturday at 10 a.m. (ESPN2).

On Sunday, the Seminoles will play their final game against No. 2 Tennessee. That top-five showdown is slated for 8 p.m. on ESPN.

“The environment in general is really cool,” Florida State coach Lonni Alameda said of the annual Clearwater tournament. “It’s got a little postseason feel to it. Not just the teams that are there, but the energy and excitement that is built around the tournament with ESPN.”

Here are additional notes from FSU Sports Information:

Series History

• Thursday will be just the fifth meeting between FSU and Stanford. The series is tied at two games apiece with the teams last meeting in 2017. 
• Florida State and UCLA are quite familiar with each other as the two teams have played each of the last four seasons and eight out of the last nine seasons. UCLA leads the overall series 12-9, but Head Coach Lonni Alameda is 7-4 against the Bruins.
• FSU and Georgia met last May when the stakes were high as the Bulldogs made their way to JoAnne Graf Field for the Tallahassee Super Regional. FSU dominated as they swept the Bulldogs by a combined score of 12-3 to advance to Oklahoma City. FSU leads the all-time series 11-8 and have won the last five against Georgia dating back to 2017.
• Sunday night will be a rematch of the 2023 Women’s College World Series Semifinal as the Seminoles and Volunteers will meet again. FSU took down Tennessee 5-1 to advance to the Championship Series. FSU has won four out of the last five against Tennessee, but the Lady Vols lead the overall series 5-4.

Below are interviews with Florida State head coach Lonni Alameda and pitcher Emma Wilson, looking ahead to the big tournament:

Talk about this story with other die-hard Florida State football fans on the Tribal Council.