Florida State University Athletics
Florida State Hits the Road for Top 10 Showdown with Clemson
4/5/2023 11:08:38 AM | Softball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – For just the second time in school history and the first time in ACC play, the No. 6 Florida State softball team (29-7, 8-1) will play a three-game series against a top five team on the road when they head to Clemson, S.C., to face No. 4 Clemson (36-1, 12-0). The two teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 3 p.m. followed by a game on Friday at 7 p.m. at McWhorter Stadium. Game one on Thursday can be seen live on ACC Network Extra. Both Thursday night’s game (ACC Network) and Friday night’s game (ESPN2) can be seen on national television.
With Clemson entering its four season as a softball program, the two teams have only played four times, all which came during the 2022 season. The Seminoles swept the Tigers at JoAnne Graf Field and won an 8-6 back and forth matchup in the ACC Championship game. The Seminoles will be making their first trip to Clemson.
The Tigers will be the fourth top five opponent the Seminoles have faced this season. The Noles took on No. 2 UCLA and No. 4 Arkansas at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational in February. The Seminoles then traveled to Stillwater, Okla., in a three game series against No. 3 Oklahoma State then played No. 1 Oklahoma.
Meeting Up Again
- Florida State head coach Lonni Alameda and Clemson head coach John Rittman go way back as Alameda was Rittman’s assistant at Stanford from 1996-2003.
- Alameda and Rittman spent eight seasons together and made six NCAA Regionals.
Seminoles’ Dominance in the ACC
- The Seminoles have dominated the ACC over the past decade.
- The Seminoles have won an ACC Championship (Regular Season/Tournament) in eight out of the past nine seasons.
- Under Head Coach Lonni Alameda, the Seminoles are 156-36-1 against the Seminoles’ eight ACC opponents this season.
- The Seminoles have only lost five ACC series since 2012.
- The Noles are the only ACC team to win a National Title as the Seminoles brought home the title in 2018.
Staying Patient at the Plate
- The Seminoles have stayed patient at the plate all season.
- The Seminoles have drawn a NCAA-leading 161 walks this season.
- Against Syracuse on Mar. 10, the Seminoles drew a season-high 11 walks. The Noles scored 10 runs on just three hits.
- At one point in the fourth inning against Syracuse, the Noles drew five consecutive walks to score five runs against the Orange.
Chasing the Record Books
- Devyn Flaherty has the chance to crack the FSU record books against Clemson.
- Flaherty has 74 career stolen bases and is one stolen base away from moving into a tie for 10th.
- Flaherty is currently 21-for-22 on the base paths this season which leads the team.
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