FSU softball saw its 2025 season end with a sweep in the Super Regionals for the second consecutive year. Coach Lonni Alameda saw some roster holes in the pitcher's circle that needed addressing at the conclusion of 2024.
She went to the transfer portal and secured two pitchers (Julia Apsel and Annabelle Widra) to provide experience and depth. The move paid off big-time as those two pitchers helped FSU produce one of the best and deepest pitching staffs in the country in 2025.
They consistently had four reliable options to choose from, which led them to the ACC regular-season crown and another Super Regional appearance. They happened to run into one of the most dominant pitchers in recent years against Texas Tech to end their season.
FSU will lose a lot from last year's team, including Apsel and Widra. They will also lose Michaela Edenfield, Katie Dack, Jahni Kerr, and Amaya Ross on offense. However, FSU has yet to land a single player from the transfer portal.
Play it back📹
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) June 12, 2025
A look back at Team 42#Team42 pic.twitter.com/hDFFsZyERM
I should note that FSU signed one of the top prep recruiting classes nationally, with top hitters and pitchers. The 2023 recruiting class featured instant-impact freshmen like Isa Torres, Jaysoni Beachum, Kennedy Harp, and Ashtyn Danley. The 2024 class saw freshman Jazzy Francik become an impact player.
There's potential for 2-3 players in the 2025 recruiting class to make an impact as freshmen. Is that what Coach Lonni Alameda is banking on going into 2026? There's still time to add some pieces from the transfer portal, but I'm not sure how many top players remain available.
If they choose to go the youth route, that's a sizeable gamble for a team expected to compete for championships. FSU returns two experienced players, Jazzy Francik and Ashtyn Danley in the circle. Torres, Beachum, and Harp(if she fully recovers from her injury) will lead the way offensively. I'm not panicking, but this is something to monitor.