Florida State softball (5-0) went through the JoAnne Graf Classic undefeated to open the 2026 season. It’s easy to say that was expected, but there have been several big-time upsets in college softball in the opening week.
FSU was never really challenged in the first five games, pitching shutouts or winning by run-rule in four of the five games. This team looks a lot like I thought it would going into the season. We knew they’d have pitching depth, and that was on display with five different pitchers getting work.
Jazzy Francik and Ashtyn Daniels look as advertised, and the freshmen Bella Dmitrijevic and Marlee Gaskell have already shown flashes that they’ll make significant contributions. The surprise might be senior Makenna Reid, looking like she might contribute more than we thought. Overall, FSU pitching might be the deepest in the ACC.
Pretty good start to the year if you ask us😊
— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) February 8, 2026
5-0 ✅ #Team43 pic.twitter.com/SFExjanlL4
FSU softball has the pitching to make some noise, but will need the offense to be consistent for a shot to make the WCWS
Offensively, Isa Torres and Jaysoni Beachum are doing what they do as some of the best players in the nation. Freshman Marin Heller, batting second behind Torres, leading off, and Beachum look to be a potent trio. Kennedy Harp didn’t play this weekend, but the lineup will get a boost if she returns anything close to what she was before her season-ending injury last year. Once healthy, she should be in the cleanup slot, and Shelby McKenzie can move down in the order.
Ashtyn Danley has swung the bat nicely, and her .333 batting average doesn’t show that she’s laced some hard-hit balls right at defenders a few times. Makenna Sturgis and Anne Hinde looked like they belonged as freshmen. Much respect to Madi Frey as a senior, but I expect they put Hinde or redshirt freshman Bella Ruggiero behind the plate at some point.
Coach Alameda will continue to tinker with the lineup early in the season and will likely make changes as players get more experience and produce or not. The pitching will be a strength, but I’m curious to see how this offense evolves, especially when the competition improves. FSU batters walked 24 times against only 10 strikeouts, and the on-base percentage is .458. They’ve left a few too many runners on base, but it’s early in the season, and the temperatures were in the 40’s much of the weekend.
FSU softball will host No. 23 Liberty on Tuesday at 6 p.m.