Florida
No. 16 Florida State softball run rules No. 12 Florida to open in-state series
For their first game against the Florida Gators, Florida State softball traveled to Gainesville to face the freshman Ava Brown. In their first trip to the batters box, the Seminoles were shut down by Brown, going 1-2-3.
On the other side of the ball, it was Mimi Gooden getting the start in the circle. Gooden walked her first batter, but it was erased on a double play to add two outs. A fly out for her next batter kept it at the minimum and was able to roll with the 0-0 game.
A one out walk from Devyn Flaherty put the first baserunner on for the Seminoles in the top of the 6th. Immediately following, Jahni Kerr knocked a single on her first pitch. Unable to capitalize on the runners, a ground out ended the frame.
Gooden started the bottom of the 2nd with a hit batter, and a ground out moved her into scoring position. With one out, the pitcher, Brown doubled to break the scoreless tie. Gooden was able to respond and keep it at only the lone run.
Some more traffic on the bases in the bottom of the 3rd, as the Gators had runners on via a pair of hits with one out. Gooden was able to lock in and get the ground out and pop up to keep the ‘Noles within one.
Gooden’s day ended after three innings of work, and Emma Wilson relieved her in the 4th. For her first batter, Wilson gave up a solo shot to extend the Gators lead to 2 runs. A one out single and walk had two runners on before a fly out. A close play at first was ruled safe with two outs, and UF loaded the bases. Luckily for the Wilson, a fly out kept the flood gates from opening.
Hallie Wacaser singled to begin the 5th inning, and was replaced by Annie Potter to run. With no outs, Katie Dack came up with a hit, and an error in the outfield allowed Potter to come all the way home.
Now a 2-1 game, Brown exited for the a Virginia transfer, Mckenzie Wooten. Facing Wooten for the first time, Amaya Ross reached on an error that placed runners on the corners. With no outs, a wild pitch brought in the equalizer.
A sacrifice and intentional walk to Jaysoni Beachum had FSU threatening once again. A base hit from Kalei Harding pulled the ‘Noles out in front for the first time.
Now 3-2 in favor of FSU, Olivia Miller relieved Wooten. Isa Torres was the first batter for Miller, and after taking a full count, Torres unloaded on a ball deep to center field for a 3-run homerun.
After the homerun, Flaherty singled with one out. A mishandled ball at second base put two runners on, and a walk to Wacaser loaded things up. An RBI fielders choice traded an out for a run, making it 7-2. Continuing to struggle, UF couldn’t get Ross to make it 8-2.
Now with 13 batters in the 5th inning, Kaley Mudge singled to add another run. Two outs didn’t matter much to Beachum as she pushed across two more runs on a homerun to left.
A twelve run inning finally came to an end, changing the course of the game. Now looking to end it early on a run rule, Ashtyn Danley came on in the bottom of the 5th. A lead off walk from Danley ended up coming around after a ground out and wild pitch.
The single that brought home third run for the Gators stood on second after a wild pitch. However, Danley was able to get her final two outs to run rule No. 12 Florida by a 12-3 score.
FSU now has 11 straight wins, and is 37-10 overall
Up next
FSU will host UNC in Tallahassee
- Friday April 26th, 6 pm, ACCNX
- Saturday April 27th, 4 pm, ESPNU
- Sunday April 28th, 12 pm, ACCNX
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Brevard County couple gets married in NICU after birth of premature twins
A Florida couple, told they may not be able to have children, welcomed premature twins and had an impromptu NICU wedding.
Provided by AdventHealth for Children
Ben and Danielle Cassidy were told they likely wouldn’t be able to have children.
But this year they will celebrate Mother’s Day just months after having an impromptu wedding in the AdventHealth for Children hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit shortly after Danielle gave birth to twins prematurely — a week before the Palm Bay couple was scheduled to get married.
Both babies, Joshua and Rhett, are doing well despite arriving nine weeks ahead of schedule on Jan. 19, 2026, just one day after their scheduled baby shower. With a proper wedding out of the question with two premature babies in the NICU, a nurse took action.
Issabel Kenkel, the nurse behind the ceremony, said she was already in wedding planning mode for her own upcoming nuptials when she found out the Cassidy family’s ceremony would be interrupted.
“I couldn’t just let them do something small. They needed decorations and something fun, so I spoke to the music therapist and the chaplain,” Kenkel said. In short order, a wedding was being planned for their hospital room and the couple was saying their vows in the company of their safely delivered newborns.
“When we found out we could request staff members to be on our team, that’s when we requested Issabel and having that kind of consistency from someone who has such a big heart and is so kind,” Danielle said.
The hospital ceremony was all the more special because of the Cassidy family’s own health struggles.
“I have five autoimmune diseases and didn’t really think I would have kids. It’s been a rough journey. When Ben and I met, we were floored at how much a miracle it was to have kids,” Danielle said.
Ben, who battled and beat cancer, said he was worried that his prior treatment would result in negative health outcomes for his future children. Having twins for him was an unexpected blessing.
“When we found out we were pregnant, we found it so shocking. We said, wouldn’t it be great if it was twins? It filled out our hopes and dreams list,” Ben said. “They’ve been miracles for sure.”
The Cassidy couple said there was so much fear and uncertainty when their twins were born nine weeks early. Being able to get married right away just made them feel all the better about the future.
“It was nice getting married because we didn’t have to wait any longer to make it official. It made it that much harder for her to get rid of me,” Ben said.
“The unknown made it scary,” Danielle added. “We had no idea how long we would be in the hospital. Our wedding was going to be at the beach with immediate family and parents. Having NICU babies, we realized we’d never be able to get to the beach. It was really special having the people who care for our babies be part of the ceremony.”
The couple hadn’t even planned to have a band at their wedding ceremony and now the hospital’s music therapist was performing live for them and the chaplain was conducting the ceremony, something nurse Kenkel said was just part of her job.
“The babies are going to have the best outcomes if the families are taken care of and going home happy,” she said. “Being in the NICU is already so stressful. This is just one more thing I could do to take care of my patients.”
Tyler Vazquez is the Growth and Development Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. X: @tyler_vazquez.
The Vero Beach Police Department took a man into custody May 8 in connection with a threatening phone call directed toward a business.
The agency received information at 5:21 p.m. May 7 about a threatening call to Thrive IRC Inc. at 2300 5th Ave. in Vero Beach, according to a news release. The call included someone threatening to come to the business with an AK rifle and “light the building up.”
Detectives began investigating the threat and identified Michael Sean O’Brien, 27, of Vero Beach, as the person associated with the phone number used during the call.
O’Brien was taken into custody at about 3:30 p.m. May 8 without incident. He was charged with the false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner, which is a second degree felony, according to the news release.
O’Brien was booked in the Indian River County Jail at 6:13 p.m. May 8 but was released at 1:36 p.m. May 9 after posting the $5,000 bond, according to the jail website.
No additional information was available the afternoon of May 9.
Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.
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