FSU Rallies Back to Defeat Florida Atlantic

TALLAHASSEE - The No. 6 Florida State softball team (7-1) rallied back from an early deficit to defeat Florida Atlantic (5-2) 9-5 on Friday night at the Shriner's Children's Clearwater Invitational.

After a scoreless first inning, Shelby McKenzie got the Noles first hit of the game on an infield single. Hayley Griggs hit her first career triple down the right field line to put the Noles up 1-0.

The Owls rallied back with four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-1 lead.

After a quiet third inning, FSU got back to work in the fourth with Anna Hinde legging out an infield single to start the inning. Griggs continued her hot streak with her second RBI of the night with a double to right center to bring Hinde home.

Makenna Sturgis immediately replaced Griggs at second with a double of her own to bring the Noles within one. Isa Torres hit a two-out double through the right side to score Sturgis to tie the game. . Marin Heller hit a blooper into shallow center field to give the Noles the 5-4 lead.

Jazzy Francik threw up a zero for the Noles in the bottom of the fourth, and Ashtyn Danley and Hinde hit back-to-back home runs to put the Noles up three.

FAU responded with one run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Sturgis hit her second home run of the season to give the Noles a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

FAU got two runners on in the seventh, but Francik shut the door to pick up her fourth win of the season.

SCORING SUMMARY:
T2 | FSU 1, FAU 0           Griggs tripled, McKenzie scored
B2 | FSU 1, FAU 2           Davey tripled, Mulhollan and Shelton scored
B2 | FSU 1, FAU 3           Hammonds singled, Davey scored
B2 | FSU 1, FAU 4           Holtje singled, Hammonds scored
T4 | FSU 2, FAU 4 Griggs doubled, Hinde scored
T4 | FSU 3, FAU 4            Sturgis doubled, Griggs scored
T4 | FSU 4, FAU 4            Torres doubled, Sturgis scored
T4 | FSU 5, FAU 4            Heller singled, Torres scored
T5 | FSU 6, FAU 4            Danley homered
T5 | FSU 7, FAU 4            Hinde homered
B6 | FSU 7, FAU 5 Holtje singled, Foran scored
T7 | FSU 9, FAU 5            Sturgis homered, Griggs scored

Of Note

FSU's three-run comeback was FSU's largest comeback win since coming back from down 7-1 to win 9-8 against Virginia on April 5, 2025.
9 out of FSU's 13 hits came from true freshmen.
7 out of FSU's 9 RBI came from true freshmen.
Hayley Griggs hit her first career triple in the second inning to give the Noles a 1-0 lead. Griggs has reached base in seven out of the first eight games.
Griggs has recorded a RBI in three out of her last five games.
Ashtyn Danley and Anna Hinde hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. It was the first time FSU has hit back-to-back home runs since Jahni Kerr and Katie Dack did it on May 9, 2025, against Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament.
Hinde hit her first career home run in the fifth inning.
Three out of FSU's four freshmen that have had an at bat this season have hit a home run.
FSU hit a season-high three home runs on Friday night.
FSU improved to 13-7 all-time against FAU
FSU improved to 21-10 all-time in the Clearwater Invitational
FSU has won five out of its last six games in the Clearwater Invitational.

FSU Rallies Back to Defeat Florida Atlantic

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Team Stats

Makenna Sturgis

Marin Heller

Anna Hinde

Hayley Griggs

Players Mentioned

Katie Dack

Ashtyn Danley

Jazzy Francik

Hayley Griggs

Marin Heller

Anna Hinde

Jahni Kerr

Shelby McKenzie

Makenna Sturgis

Isa Torres

Florida State University Athletics