Florida State News: Latson returning, B-ball coach soon, Baseball shining, Softball

Florida State v Wake Forest
Florida State v Wake Forest | Isaiah Vazquez/GettyImages

FSU women's basketball got wonderful news this week when National Player of the Year candidate Ta'Niya Latson announced she plans to skip the WNBA Draft and will return to FSU for his senior season.

The nation's leading scorer led FSU to a (23-7, 13-5 ACC) regular-season record. The Noles lost in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals against North Carolina and await to see what their seed is for the NCAA Tournament.

It appears FSU basketball is close to hiring their next coach. Multiple sites report that FSU and former FSU player Luke Loucks are negotiating to take the spot vacated by Leonard Hamilton stepping down after the season.

I'd expect an announcement shortly after FSU finishes the season in the ACC Tournament.

FSU baseball and FSU softball took care of business on Friday. The baseball team smoked Lipscomb 10-1, with Cal Fisher hitting a grand slam and Max Williams hitting a monster solo home run. Gage Harrelson and Myles Bailey had two hits each.

Joey Volini stepped in and pitched for Jamie Arnold who was feeling under the weather and went seven strong innings. Volini has 11 strikeouts, one walk, and allowed one earned run.

The Noles will go for the series win on Saturday.

FSU softball played the first of several games on the West Coast on Friday evening. The Noles made quick work of the Oregon State Beavers with an 8-0 run-rule win in five innings.

Jazzy Francik went the distance inside the circle and had a no-hitter for much of the game. She allowed three hits, and one walk, and had six strikeouts.

Kennedy Harp had three hits and two RBI. Hallie Wacaser had two hits and three RBI, including a home run. Isa Torres went two for four with an RBI.

FSU softball got shut out in the second game Friday night against No. 12 Oregon. The offense only managed one hit and a walk in the entire game. There is a narrative forming that the offense doesn't show up against the better teams FSU has faced. FSU has four losses against ranked opponents, and the offense hasn't scored more than six runs in any of those contests. There's still a lot of season left, but it's something that must improve for FSU to make some noise in the postseason.

They will have an opportunity to change that narrative over the weekend.

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