TALLAHASSEE – The No. 10 Florida State softball team (34-5, 9-0) took down its in-state rivals, the No. 2 Florida Gators (33-6, 6-3), 4-0, during a midweek showdown in front of an electric, sold-out JoAnne Graf crowd. 1,737 fans watched the Noles take down the Gators which is the eighth-largest regular season crowd at JoAnne Graf Field. The win was FSU’s highest ranked regular season win since defeating No. 2 Arizona on March 13, 2021. FSU has won seven out of the last eight meetings against the Gators
 
The Gators looked like they were going strike first in the top of the first inning as they loaded the bases with one out, but Ashtyn Danley delivered back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and shift all the momentum to the home team. 
 
FSU got going right away with a single from Isa Torres, and an error from the Gators put Torres on third and Jaysoni Beachum at second for Jahni Kerr. Kerr stepped up big and smashed a rise ball to right field on a 3-2 count to give the Noles the early 3-0 lead. 

Danley continued to come up in the clutch as the Gators put runners in scoring position in the second, third and fourth innings, but Danley continued to record clutch outs to keep a Gator offense, which ranks in the top 10 in the country in every major category, off the board. 

 

After the first two batters got on base in the top of the fifth, Annabelle Widra entered the circle for Danley. Widra immediately recorded a strikeout on three pitches. The Gators looked to have their first runs of the game on a shallow hit ball to right field, but Hallie Wacaser made a diving catch then threw the ball to Torres at second to complete the double play to end the inning. 

 

In the sixth, Widra retired the side in order quickly, needing only eight pitches to sit down the Gators.

 

Kerr continued her hot streak with another rocket to right field to give the Noles a 4-0 lead. Wednesday night was Kerr’s first-ever multi-home run game in her four years with the Garnet and Gold and she also tied her career high with four RBI. In seven career games against Florida, Kerr is hitting .454 (10-for-22) with four home runs and nine RBI including the walk-off home run at JoAnne Graf Field in 2022. 

Widra had no problem with the Gators in the seventh as she retired the side on seven pitches. Widra earned her first save of the season after retiring all eight batters she faced on just 23 pitches. Danley recorded the win against the ranked Gators to bring her record to 7-1 on the season. Danley pitched four scoreless innings while allowing just four hits while striking out three. 

The Noles extended their winning streak to 14 games which is the second-longest streak in the country. FSU’s 34-5 start is the program’s best start since 2022 when the Noles started 37-4. In the 14-game win streak, FSU is outscoring its opponents 209-50 with the shutout against Florida. Wednesday’s shutout was FSU’s fifth shutout win ever against Florida and its first since 2019. 

 

The Noles will continue their campaign at home against the Virginia Cavaliers this weekend with the series opener on Friday at 6 p.m. on ACCNX. 

 

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