FSU softball shuts out FAMU, Gooden picks up first win

FSU softball improved to (3-1) on the season with a 9-0 five-inning win over their Tallahassee neighbor FAMU. The FSU offense wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning behind an RBI single from Kalei Harding and a three-run bomb by Michaela Edenfield. FSU plated three more in the bottom of the third behind Jaysoni Beachum's first career home run and an RBI single by Jahni Kerr. Kaley Mudge drove in two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman Mimi Gooden got her first career win, pitching five scoreless innings, allowing three hits, two walks, and striking out four batters.

She threw 78 pitches, with 50 strikes, though FAMU batters chased balls out of the zone quite a bit. That's something she'll need to clean up as the competition gets better. Jahni Kerr and Harding had two hits. It was good to see Edenfield drive the home run to right centerfield because that's when she's at her best instead of trying to pull everything like she had done in previous at-bats against Texas Tech earlier Saturday. FSU batters drew eight walks and had nine hits with zero strikeouts. The Noles will wrap up the JoAnne Graf Classic on Sunday afternoon with one more game against FAMU at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Quick Thoughts

Lonni Alameda usually mixes things up quite a bit early in the season, and the first four games have been no different. We see freshmen getting lots of playing time and working through some early struggles. I know it can get frustrating as a fan, but understand FSU is building towards the end of the season when they want to be at their best. These freshmen will be battle-tested by the time April rolls around and will have valuable experience to pull from.