Francik, Torres lead FSU Softball past Jackets; Baseball falls at Stanford

Florida State Sports Information Release:

Jazzy Francik threw her third career no-hitter and Isa Torres hit two home runs as the No. 13 Florida State softball team (41-7, 16-3) defeated Georgia Tech (29-23, 10-12), 4-0, on Friday night in Atlanta. 

Francik threw seven no-hit innings and allowed just two walks while striking out one. Francik improved to 18-2 this season with the win. 

Torres continued to be the best hitter in the country as the junior hit her fourth leadoff homer in the last seven games. Torres went on to hit another solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Torres has hit eight home runs in her last 11 games after never having more than nine home runs in a season the past two years. 

After leading just 1-0 heading into the sixth inning, Torres added insurance for the Noles with her home run. FSU continued the rally as Jaysoni Beachum singled, and Anna Hinde walked to put traffic on the base paths for Bella Ruggiero, who delivered with a single to allow pinch runners Angelee Bueno and Madi Frey to score to make it 4-0. 

Francik retired the side in order in the seventh to complete the no-hitter. 

The two teams will be back in action Saturday at 5 p.m. on the ACC Network. 

Of Note

• Jazzy Francik threw her third career no-hitter on Friday evening. Francik is the first Seminole since Meghan King to have three or more career no-hitters. 
• Francik’s no-hitter was the 121st no-hitter in FSU history. 
• Isa Torres hit her seventh leadoff home run of the season in the top of the first inning. 
• Torres picked up her fourth career multi-home run game and her second in as many games. 
• Torres has hit eight home runs in her last 11 games and has set a new career high with 15 home runs.
• Torres’ 15 home runs is tied for the 10th-most home runs in a single season in FSU history.
• Jaysoni Beachum went 2-for-3 today and has now reached base safely in 36 consecutive games which is the fourth-longest streak in FSU history and the longest streak since 2014.
• Bella Ruggiero drove in two runs on a RBI single and has now recorded a RBI in seven out of her last eight games. 
• FSU scored one run in the first inning and has now outscored its opponents 65-20 in the first inning. FSU improved to 25-2 when it scores in the first inning.
• FSU improved to 73-26 all-time against Georgia Tech. 
• FSU has won 27 consecutive games against the Yellow Jackets dating back to 2013. 

FSU Baseball falls at Stanford

The No. 8 Florida State baseball team suffered a 4-3 loss at Stanford on Friday night to begin a three-game series at Sunken Diamond.

The Seminoles (29-12, 12-7 ACC) scored their three runs in the third inning, but the Cardinal (19-19, 8-11 ACC) answered with all four of their runs in the fifth.

Friday night’s defeat snaps a five-game win streak.

Junior left-handed starter Wes Mendes took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and retired 13 of the first 14 batters he faced. He falls to 7-3 on the year. In 6.0 innings, Mendes allowed four runs on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks. Junior righty Chris Knier relieved Mendes with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh and escaped the jam to allow no runs on one hit with three strikeouts and no walks in 2.0 innings.

Sophomore catcher Hunter Carns was one of two players with two hits and he added an RBI, while junior left fielder Chase Williams recorded a team-leading two RBI with a hit and a run.

As the Seminoles and Cardinal faced off for the first time as ACC opponents, Florida State made its first trip to Stanford since 2003.

FSU scored its three runs on seven hits with eight runners left on base. SU had four runs on five hits with six stranded. Neither team committed an error.

The two teams will continue the three-game series on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.

Mendes retired the side in order in the first inning and worked around a two-out hit-batter in the second.

Florida State scored its three runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead. Redshirt senior first baseman Eli Putnam led off the inning with a single and senior second baseman Carter McCulley doubled to put two on with no outs. Williams then doubled in Putnam and McCulley before sophomore catcher Hunter Carns singled home Williams for the third run of the game.

Stanford scored four runs in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. With one out, a walk, single and walk loaded the bases as the Cardinal got their first hit and second, third and fourth baserunners of the game. A ground-rule double scored the first two runs to make it 3-2. A lineout was followed by a two-out, two-run single to put SU ahead 4-3.

Florida State put two runners on in the sixth with one out, but a strikeout ended the scoring threat with runners on second and third. The Seminoles had two reach in the seventh on a walk and hit batter, but a groundout prevented them from tying the game or regaining the lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Stanford loaded the bases with no outs as Knier relieved Mendes after a leadoff walk. Back-to-back strikeouts came before an inning-ending foul pop-up to help Knier escape the jam to keep it a one run game. Knier retired the side in order in the eighth.

FSU could not get the tying run on base in the ninth.

The series continues with game two on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. The finale in California is on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

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