Boston, MA— The Florida State Seminoles are headed back to the ACC Championship Game after grinding out a hard-fought 3-2 win over defending champion Duke on Friday afternoon.
Clinging to a one-run lead with the tying run just 60 feet away and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, FSU turned to freshman Ashtyn Danley in a high-pressure moment. Danley delivered, inducing a soft pop-up to first base to seal the victory and send the eighth-ranked Seminoles (46-8) to their 27th appearance in the conference title game.
They will face the winner of the Virginia Tech vs. Clemson semifinal on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET, with the championship broadcast live on ESPN. A win would mark Florida State’s 20th ACC crown.
Much of Friday’s success stemmed from the arm of standout freshman Jazzy Francik, who was electric in relief. Entering after starter Julia Apsel, Francik tossed four scoreless innings without issuing a walk, striking out four and surrendering just three hits. With two outs and no one on in the seventh, it looked like a routine finish—until Duke strung together back-to-back singles and a fielding error by shortstop Isa Torres brought the game within one, putting the tying run on third.
That’s when Danley entered and shut the door with nerves of steel.
Offensively, the Seminoles didn’t put up their usual offensive barrage but got key contributions at the right time. Torres, who boasts a .451 batting average this season, led the way with two hits and a run scored. Jahni Kerr and Katie Dack each drove in a run, and catcher Michaela Edenfield added a crucial solo home run—her ninth of the season—in the bottom of the sixth, which ultimately proved to be the difference.
Now, with a shot at another ACC title, the Seminoles are poised to add another chapter to their storied history on Saturday.
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