FSU softball sweeps Southeastern Louisiana University in dramatic doubleheader

Florida State softball swept Southeastern Louisiana University in a dramatic doubleheader on Friday at the JoAnne Graf Classic.

The No. 8 Seminoles (11-1) had a flair for the dramatics with two intense games against the Lions.

With the wins, FSU has won 11 straight games.

In game one Julia Apsel started for FSU and she threw a scoreless 4.1 innings and allowed three hits while striking out two. Jazzy Francik replaced her to finish the game, and she struck out one and allowed just one hit.

FSU’s pitchers battled to keep the score down as the Seminoles offense took a few innings to click. After a scoreless first two innings, the Seminoles scored twice in the third inning from a Michaela Edenfield triple.

The two-run cushion was enough to give the Seminoles the edge until a run in the fifth inning and two in the sixth secured the win. It was a gritty game for FSU, but three RBI between Edenfield and Jaysoni Beachum gave FSU the boost it needed.

Game two was a far tenser affair as the game went nine innings and needed a walk-off from Beachum to secure an FSU comeback victory.

After Francik allowed four runs in the first two innings, the Seminoles turned to Ashtyn Danley in relief.

She threw seven scoreless innings, striking out nine and allowed just one hit in an impressive relief appearance. Her efforts on the mound allowed the Seminoles time to cut into the four-run lead.

The comeback was sparked by Isa Torres who recorded three RBI to get the Seminoles back into the game.

In the third, she reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Amaya Ross to score. She followed that with a double in the fifth that scored one, before another double in the seventh that set up Kennedy Harp for the game-tying single.

After a scoreless eighth inning, Beachum delivered the game-winning single in the ninth, going opposite field and scoring Krystina Hartley.

FSU softball’s JoAnne Graf Classic schedule

FSU vs. No. 6 Texas A&M (doubleheader)

When/Where: Game 1 – Saturday, 3 p.m. /JoAnne Graf Field – Seminole Softball Complex | Game 2 – 5:30 p.m. (Subject to change) / JoAnne Graf Field – Seminole Softball Complex

Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney