FSU softball: Noles begin 2022 with four wins in JoAnne Graf Classic

FSU softball (4-0, 0-0 ACC) began the 2022 season how you’d expect the No. 6 team in the nation.

The Noles won all four of their games in the JoAnne Graf Classic, only allowing two runs while scoring 35 runs.

FSU defeated Mercer 12-0, Kennesaw State 4-0, Loyola 8-2, and Kennesaw State 11-0. FSU starting pitchers dominated, and FSU batters hit the ball all over the ballpark. Jahni Kerr and Devyn Flaherty were terrors at the plate all weekend, and transfer Mack Leonard made her presence felt.

Michaela Edenfield had some great at-bats and rarely swung at pitches outside the zone. Freshman Brooke Blakenship had a strong start to her FSU softball career.

However, the most impressive one may have been this catch and throw by right fielder Kalei Harding:

That play was reminiscent of her throw to nail a runner at third base in the College World Series last season. It’s still early, and the Noles will face stiffer competition in the coming week. However, this team looks like it could have similar success to what we witnessed last season.

It’s why they are No. 6 nationally and picked to win the ACC Conference for the ninth consecutive season. I was impressed by the team in all phases of the game. The pitchers threw strikes, the defense was great, and the hitters put the ball in play.

However, it may have been their aggressiveness on the basepaths that caught my eye the most, aside from the power surge. I watched Devyn Flaherty go from first to third base on a base hit to left field. She didn’t hesitate as soon as she touched second base and easily made it safely.

It’s small things like that that could be the difference between winning and losing against better competition. The aggressiveness forces the defense to make plays, which often results in an advantage for the offense.

FSU softball will return to action Wednesday, hosting South Alabama at 2 p.m. The game will air on the ACC Network.