![Florida State has a mound conference during a NCAA softball game at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2484,h_1397/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/270/01krvj3ydmdtzg1cqzp8.jpg "Florida State has a mound conference during a NCAA softball game at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
Three elimination games and three wins. That’s what the Florida State softball team has faced over the past two days. Florida State defeated UCF 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday to move one game away from advancing to Super Regionals for the fourth consecutive year.
It was a tight game from start to finish, as UCF took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, but freshman Haley Griggs crushed a solo home run in the bottom of the frame to tie it at 1-1. It was an incredible eight pitch at-bat. Another freshman, Anna Hinde, crushed a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, and that’s all the Noles would need to secure the win.
ON THE 8TH PITCH OF THE AT-BAT HAYLEY GOES YARD💣💣💣💣
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) May 17, 2026
📺ESPN+#Team43 pic.twitter.com/W0EdwUkLmv
ANNA HINDE GIVES US THE LEAD‼️‼️‼️
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) May 17, 2026
Her 9th of the year💣💣💣
📺ESPN+#Team43 pic.twitter.com/rrWjY4nzz1
Florida State has a chance to silence the haters if they can send UCF home in the second game.
FSU had only three hits and two walks in the game, striking out four times against UCF ace Isabella Vega. However, ACC Pitcher of the Year, Jazzy Francik, outdueled her, going 6.1 innings, allowing two hits, one earned run, one walk, and four strikeouts. Ashtyn Danley came in to record the final two outs and allowed a hit and no runs.
The advantage should go to Florida State in the winner-takes-all game at 2:30 p.m. The Noles have better pitching depth and a better offense overall. It’s possible UCF could send Vega out in the second game, but she’s already thrown 100 pitches. FSU has Danley and Bella Dimitrijevic available, and could bring Francik back to the circle if needed. She threw 96 pitches in the first game.
FSU couldn’t make much solid contact aside from the two solo home runs. It was like that in the first game against Stetson before the offense exploded in the two games on Saturday. Florida State seems primed to explode this afternoon after the lackluster performance at the plate in game one.
FSU has played three consecutive do-or-die games, so now the pressure falls on UCF to win after losing the first game. The Noles have been extremely tough to beat at home, and I like their chances to advance to Super Regionals once again.
Add us as a preferred source on Google