FSU softball begins ACC play hosting No. 4 Duke Blue Devils

FSU softball (17-6, 0-0) looks to get back on track and start ACC play on a positive note after losing to Alabama Wednesday night. FSU will host No. 4 Duke (20-1, 3-0 ACC). Duke has won 20 consecutive games after opening the season with a loss to No. 1 Oklahoma. They defeated Elon in midweek action after sweeping Syracuse in ACC play last weekend. They shut out the Orange in all three games, outscoring them 16-0 in the series. Duke batters are hitting .333 with a .426 on-base percentage. They have only struck out in 11 percent of their at-bats and have hit 25 home runs. Duke pitchers have been outstanding, bringing a 0.74 ERA into the series and striking out 156 batters in 132 innings. Opposing batters are hitting .151 against them. Defensively, Duke brings a .979 fielding percentage into the contest. This game could look similar to the Alabama contest, but Duke is a better-hitting team overall.

Keys To Victory

FSU pitchers must avoid walks and giving up runs early in the game. That's something that's haunted the Noles in nearly every game lately, and puts unnecessary pressure on the offense to respond. The Noles will need FSU batters to show patience at the plate and take advantage of situational hitting, plus when runners are in scoring position. Duke pitchers will be around the plate and will change speeds effectively. Duke isn't goin to beat themselves, and FSU will need to elevate their play to a higher level than we've seen. Honestly, the offense will have to score several runs because FSU pitchers will likely give them up unless they channel their inner Kathryn Sandercock. Makenna Reid hasn't been flawless, but she seems to have found ways to get batters out at a higher rate than earlier this year. She'll need her to find her form from last year if FSU plans to make any noise in the conference. Friday's game will begin at 6 p.m. and will air on the ACCNX channel.