Softball Begins Quest for 20th ACC Championship on Thursday Against Notre Dame - Florida State University (2024)

TALLAHASSEE - The second-seeded Florida State softball team (41-13, 19-5) will begin its quest for its 20th ACC Championship on Thursday as they will take on 10th-seeded Notre Dame in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. on the ACC Network.

ACC Tournament History

• Florida State has won 19 ACC Tournament Championships with their first coming in 1992.
• FSU has won eight out of the last nine ACC Tournament Championships.
• FSU will be looking for its third consecutive ACC Tournament Championship.
• FSU has been to the ACC Championship Game 25 times in the 30 years that FSU has been in the ACC Tournament.
• FSU is 76-20 (.784) all-time in the ACC Tournament, outscoring their opponents 464-188.
• FSU is 35-5 in the ACC Tournament since Lonni Alameda became the head coach in 2009. In that time period FSU won nine of the 15 ACC Titles.

Built To Finish

• A Lonni Alameda coached team is always going to finish the season strong and this year seems to be no different.
• FSU finished 16-1 in April and outscored its opponents 135-34.
• In the past four seasons. Florida State is 90-12-1 during the months of April and May.

Oh, How the Tables Have Turned

• After losing four out of five games to the likes of Alabama, Duke and Texas, the Seminoles have won 23 out of their last 27 games.
• 12 out of FSU's 23 wins have come via run rule.
• FSU jumped up to No. 13 in the RPI after being No. 26 in the RPI at the start of April.
• FSU has outscored their opponent 224-89 and are averaging 8.30 runs per game in its past 27 games.
• During their eight-game winning streak from Mar. 23-Apr. 3, FSU scored at least eight runs in all eight of those games during the winning streak. That tied the school record for the longest streak of scoring eight or more runs. The last time FSU accomplished the feat was from Mar. 19-31, 2019.

Wait, They're Only Freshmen?!?!?!

• Yes, some of Florida State's best production has come from a freshmen class that was ranked the No. 3 overall class by softball America.
• Jaysoni Beachum (.443) and Isa Torres (.365) hold two out of the top three batting averages on the team.
• Both Beachum and Torres were named Top 25 finalists for the TUCCI/NFCA National Freshman of the Year award last week.
• In the circle, Ashtyn Danley has recorded a team-high 18 starts and 117 innings.
• Mimi Gooden has also been a force for the Noles in the circle as she has pitched 46.2 innings and made nine starts.
• All five freshman hitters have recorded a hit and a RBI this season with Torres, Beachum and Kennedy Harp all recording 10+ hits.
• The six freshmen have made a combined 142 starts this season.
• 153 out of the team's 501 (31%) hits have come from freshmen.
• 131 out of the team's 380 RBI (34%) have come from freshmen.
• 44% of the team's innings pitched have come from freshmen.

Youth in the Circle

• A program that has continuously put together one of the best pitching staffs in the country has faced a new challenge this year....youth.
• 74% of innings thrown this year have been from either freshman or sophom*ores.
• 44% of the innings pitched have been from true freshmen.
• Freshmen and sophom*ores have combined to start 36 out of the Seminoles' 54 games this season.

Get Hot, Stay Hot

• The Florida State offense has been one of the best in the country through the first 47 games of the season.
• FSU is averaging 7.74 runs per game which is sixth in the country and second in the ACC. FSU is hitting .343 as a team which ranks eighth in the country.
• FSU has scored 419 runs through 54 games this season which is on pace to break the school record of 459 runs scored by the 2016 team.
• In 55 games, FSU has scored 8 or more runs in 32 games. In 69 games last season, FSU scored eight or more runs just 22 times.
• FSU has scored 10 or more runs in 17 games so far this season after accomplishing that feat just eight times last season.

Dominance in the ACC

• Florida State has been on top of the ACC for the past decade.
• FSU has won eight out of the last nine ACC Tournament Championships and seven out of the last nine ACC Regular Season Championships.
• Since 2012, FSU has lost just three ACC road series and has not lost an ACC road series since 2019.
• FSU has lost just three ACC series in the last four seasons and have lost just five ACC series since 2012.

Call It What It Is. Jaysoni Beachum is the Best Freshman in the Country

• Jaysoni Beachum has continued to solidify herself as not only one of the best freshmen in the country but as one of the best players in the country.
• Beachum, a native of Tallahassee, leads the team with a .443 batting average, 74 hits, 15 home runs and 63 RBI.
• Her 63 RBI is the most ever by a Florida State freshman as she broke Sydney Sherrill's record of 58 RBI against UNC on April 27. It also tied with Alex Powers for the fifth-most RBI ever in a single season by a Seminole
• Beachum has hit eight home runs in her last 14 games.
• In her last 14 games, Beachum has recorded 24 RBI
• Beachum is just the third true freshman in school history to have 10+ home runs and 50+ RBI joining Jessi Warren and Sydney Sherrill.
• Beachum has recorded a hit in 41 out of the Seminoles' 54 games this season.
• Out of the 54 games this season, Beachum has had two or more hits in 27 games.
• Beachum has the highest batting average in the country among freshmen and has the seventh highest batting average in the country.
• Beachum is on pace to break the freshmen school record for batting average, hits, slugging percentage and on base percentage in a season.
• Beachum has had two multi-home run games this season. Beachum is the first true freshman since Kalei Harding in 2021 to have a multi-home run game.
• Beachum has also locked down the hot corner for the Noles making 53 starts at the positions. Beachum has committed just five errors this season.
• Beachum was the only freshman to be on the USA Softball National Player of the Year Top 26 list. Beachum is the first freshman in program history to be named a finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year award.
• Beachum was named the ACC Player of the Week on Apr. 23 and became the first FSU true freshman to win the award since Sydney Sherrill in 2018.
• Beachum was named Softball America's Freshman of the Month in February, March and April.

Ocho's Being Ocho

• Kalei Harding or "Ocho" continues to be a consistent force for the Florida State lineup and is solidifying herself as one of the top hitters in program history
• Harding is currently hitting .339 with 57 RBI which is second on the team.
• In ACC play, Harding hit .356 with four home runs and 26 RBI.
• Harding has reached base in 25 out of the last 27 games.
• Against UCLA, Harding recorded four hits in five at-bats which was tied for a career high. Harding was the first FSU player since Kaley Mudge in 2021 at the Women's College World Series against Alabama to record four or more hits.
• Her seven RBI game against Charlotte tied Anna Shelnutt (2017) for the school record for RBI in a single game.
• Harding is second all-time in school history for career doubles (55), fourth in school history for career home runs (42), fourth for career RBI (196) and seventh in school history for career slugging percentage (.584).

Mudge Getting Back to Her Consistent Self

• After being slowed down by an offseason surgery, Kaley Mudge has made her way back to the top of the lineup and has been one of FSU's most consistent players in ACC play.
• Mudge hit .400 with two home runs in 11 RBI in ACC play.
• Her average is up to .362 after hitting .412 in the Seminoles' last 27 games.
• Against Notre Dame, Mudge went 7-for-10 (.700) with two doubles and a triple.
• Mudge has been the Seminoles' leadoff hitter in 35 out of the last 36 games

Edenfield is Back and Already Making an Impact

• After redshirting her freshman season, Michaela Edenfield has taken the sport by storm and has been one of the nation's best power and clutch hitters.
• In her first two seasons, Edenfield has recorded two 50+ RBI seasons. Edenfield is one of just six Seminoles who have ever recorded two 50+ RBI seasons as a Seminole.
• Edenfield joined Jessi Warren and Sydney Sherrill as the only Seminoles to have 50+ RBI in their first two seasons in the Garnet and Gold.
• Edenfield will look to join Warren as the only two Seminoles who have recorded three 50+ RBI seasons. Warren had four 50+ RBI seasons as a Seminole.
• Last season, Edenfield was phenomenal when it mattered most. In 2023, 25 out of her 39 hits (64%) resulted in a run being scored. So far in 2024, 20 out of Edenfield's 45 hits (44%) have resulted in a run being scored.
• Edenfield missed nine games due to a broken finger but made her return against North Carolina as a designated player and made her first starts at catcher against Syracuse.
• Edenfield is hitting .388 this season with 13 home runs and 40 RBI after having not finished with above a .300 batting average in her first two seasons as a Seminole.
• Edenfield currently sits fifth in FSU history with 41 career home runs.

Torres Finds Groove in the Box and in the Field

• Replacing Josie Muffley is no easy task, but freshman Isa Torres has given her best shot and is off to a great start offensively and defensively for the Noles at the shortstop position.
• Torres is third on the team in batting average (.365) and has driven in 49 runs this season.
• Torres has continued to make jaw-dropping plays at the shortstop position this season and holds a .970 fielding percentage this season.

Coming Up in the Clutch

• When the pressure is on, freshman Isa Torres has come up big on multiple occasions for the Seminoles.
• Last Wednesday with the Seminoles leading No. 12 Florida 3-2 in the fifth inning, Torres launched a three-run home run to center field to blow the game open.
• Torres has hit two walk-offs in the bottom of the seventh this season to lead the Noles to victory.
• Torres hit a two-run walk-off home run against NC State on Mar. 28 to put the Seminoles on top 8-6. Torres was the first true freshman to hit a walk-off home run since Jessi Warren in 2015 against Notre Dame.
• Torres also hit a two-RBI walk-off single against Texas Tech on Feb. 9 to win the game for the Noles.

Flaherty Heating Up at the Plate

• Remember Devyn Flaherty? Yes, she's back to her old self and has been leading the charge for the Noles at the plate in the past 24 games.
• Flaherty has hit .417 in her last 27 games compared to just a .207 average in her first 27 games.
• Against Boston College, she put the game away with a two-run home run to complete FSU's seventh inning comeback against the Eagles.
• Flaherty is still as dangerous as ever on the base paths as she has 13 stolen bases on 15 attempts.
• Last season, Flaherty stole 31 bases on 32 attempts which led the ACC.
• Flaherty cracked the all-time top 10 list for most career stolen bases in school history. Flaherty has 97 career stolen bases which puts her eighth in school history.
• Flaherty was one of four players in the NCAA in 2023 to steal 30 or more bases while only being caught once.

Danley Coming Alive in the Circle

• True freshman pitcher and outfielder Ashtyn Danley came to Tallahassee as one of the top recruits in the country and has begun to find her footing as a Seminole.
• Danley has made a team-high 18 starts for the Seminoles this season and holds a 15-4 record. Danley led the ACC with 10 wins during conference play.
• In ACC play, Danley holds a 2.62 ERA in 69.1 innings.
• Against one of the top offenses in the country in Texas, Danley threw three scoreless innings while striking out three.

Kerr Continues Hot Streak

• Redshirt junior Jahni Kerr is back for the Seminoles after a breakout season in 2023.
• In 2024, Kerr is hitting .338 with 38 RBI in 46 games. Kerr missed seven games this season due to injury.
• Against Pitt, Kerr hit three home runs in three games for the Noles.
• As one of the top recruits in the country coming out of high school, Kerr struggled in her first two seasons as a Seminole as she dealt with the implications of COVID and was recovering from a knee injury that she suffered her freshman season.
• The tide turned for Kerr in 2023, and it all started with a home run in a primetime ESPN slot against Alabama at the 2023 Clearwater Invitational. Kerr came into the game starting in just three out of the Seminoles nine games and was 2-for-10 at the plate.
• Kerr led the team with a .356 batting average while adding eight home runs and 40 RBI in 2023.
• Kerr earned First Team All-ACC honors for the first time in her career and was named to the Preseason All-ACC Team.

My Oh Amaya

• Fans have known the name Amaya Ross for awhile but mainly for her insane speed on the base paths. Now, Ross has found herself in the FSU lineup for more than just her speed.
• Ross has started all 54 games this season after making just 18 starts the past two seasons.
• Ross has surpassed her hit, RBI and home run numbers this season from the last two seasons combined.
• Ross had one of the best weeks of her career at the Dugout Club Classic.
• In six games, Ross recorded 10 hits in 15 at-bats (.667) with six RBI and three triples.
• Ross was involved in 17 out of the Seminoles 47 runs scored in the Dugout Club Classic and was a perfect 5-for-5 on the base paths.
• Ross's six triples is ninth in the country.
• Ross is 19th in the country and leads the ACC with 28 stolen bases this season.
• Ross currently holds a .349 batting average with eight home runs which is fourth on the team.
• Ross has stolen 55 bases in 59 attempts over the course of her career.

A True Utility

• No one has embraced the utility role more in her career than Kalei Harding.
• Harding, who was recruited as a catcher, has played all but three positions (Pitcher, catcher, second base) during her career at Florida State.
• Harding is one of just three active players in the NCAA to have played six or more positions in their career.
• This season, Harding has already played left field, right field, third base and first base.

Staying Patient at the Plate

• Last season, FSU was one of the best teams in the country at staying patient at the plate and this year doesn't seem to be any different.
• Last season, FSU drew 249 walks which ranked third in the country.
• In 54 games, FSU has drawn 205 walks which is currently ranked 10th in the country.

Speed, Speed and More Speed

• FSU's offensive formula was pretty simple in 2023, get on base and cause chaos on the base paths and nothing has changed in 2024.
• So far this season, FSU has stolen 81 bases on 94 attempts which is second in the ACC.
• FSU led all Power Five schools with 134 stolen bases in 153 tries in 2023.
• FSU's 134 stolen bases ranked ninth in the country and were the fifth-most in school history and the most since the 2018 National Championship team.
• 113 out of the Seminoles 134 stolen bases were by returning players.

Doubles on Doubles on Doubles

• No one in the country was better at hitting for extra bases last season than the Florida State Seminoles, and the Seminoles are once again one of the best teams in the country at hitting for extra bases.
• So far in 2024, FSU has hit 89 doubles this season which leads the ACC and is sixth in the country.
• FSU hit a school record 122 doubles in 2023 which was the fifth-most in NCAA history.
• FSU also hit 13 triples last season.
• Kalei Harding led the way with 22 doubles last season which was the second-most in school history.
• Kaley Mudge also hit 18 doubles which was tied for fifth in school history.

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