FSU softball opened Tallahassee Regional play on Friday night, facing Chattanooga.
Despite knowing it was in for a gritty game, the Seminoles overcame a slow start offensively to defeat the Mocs 3-2 at JoAnne Graf field to open regional play with a victory.
After three scoreless innings from both teams, Chattanooga took a two-run lead in the fourth, and FSU coach Lonni Alameda credited the team's veterans for keeping positive energy throughout the game despite it not going their way early on.
The Seminoles cut into the lead with one run in the fifth, and ultimately took the advantage after a two-run sixth inning, securing the victory.
"That was a real fun ball club and it was to compete against them," Alameda said. "I think for our upperclassmen to come and settle the team down and enjoy the moment was big. So I was excited to survive and advance and be able to move forward."
A pair of triples sparks FSU's late-inning rally
Chattanooga pitcher Peja Goold held FSU scoreless through the first four innings of play and frustrated the Seminoles' bats, allowing just two hits.
However, the Seminoles found their rhythm offensively in the fifth and sixth innings, starting with a Jahni Kerr triple that set the tone for what was to come.
Hallie Wacaster followed that up with an infield single, leading Keer to score in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the lead to one.
The Seminoles added two more runs in the sixth inning from a sac fly by freshman Isa Torres and an RBI triple by Devyn Flaherty.
Flaherty said she spoke with Torres before her at-bat, trying to fill the freshman with confidence before she went to the plate, and it worked.
"It's a team effort right now," Flaherty said. "Our whole motto is 'for one.' So we only need everybody and we just kind of dove into that. Isa and I were just talking before and talking about our plans a little. I was like, 'You got this,' and she was like, 'Yeah, if I don't, you do."
"That was kind of the motto of going at it together and next man up. If I don't get the job done, I have all faith in the world that someone else behind me will get the job done."
Defense, pitching kept Seminoles alive
FSU's pitching has struggled at points this season, but on Friday senior Allison Royalty and freshman Ashton Danley were called upon to delivery a strong performance, and they answered the call in the circle.
Royalty allowed just three hits and two runs in 4.1 innings of work, and Alameda believed the senior's growing confidence led to her performance.
"I think a lot of people's question marks at the beginning of the year were about pitching and what we were going to do with pitching," Alameda said. "I think it has taken us all season to gain some confidence as the pitchers and then the defense to be able to understand what they were capable of doing."
Danley relieved Royalty, picking up the win after throwing three strikeouts and allowing no hits in 2.2 innings.
The defense shut out the Mocs in six of the seven innings, allowing just two runs in the fourth inning.
A diving catch by right fielder Jahni Kerr in the second inning highlighted a dazzling display from the Seminoles' defense. Kerr talked about her leaping catches after the game.
"It might've been a rocky start, but in the end, I caught the ball," Kerr said. "I think it was just the mindset. Maybe it's rocky in the beginning, but you just have to keep going. Give your whole effort until its over. "
Seminoles set for date with UCF after Knights beat Auburn
In game one of the day doubleheader, the University of Central Florida and Auburn squared off in an offensive battle.
UCF jumped out to a two-run lead in the first, but six runs in three innings from Auburn kept the Knights quite until the fifth inning. Scoring two in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 6-4, the Knights scored seven runs in the final two innings to defeat the Tigers 11-6.
The Knights will move on to face the Seminoles on Saturday, May 18 at 1 p.m.
Alameda spoke about facing UCF and the familiarity she has with the team after last year's meeting in the Tallahassee Regional.
"I think they have been challenged a lot this year in a new conference, and I think they stayed the course," Alameda said. "We're pretty familiar with UCF. They are very talented and very senior-heavy right now. I think when you have a lot of seniors willing to leave it out on there on the field, it's a challenge at times."
"It's going to be a dogfight tomorrow."
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
