No. 12 Florida State Softball Defeats UNC After Early Power Surge

Seminoles bounce back from recent losing streak with 8-4 win over Tar Heels

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:51am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in Florida State's colors, capturing the dynamic energy and motion of a softball game through Picasso-esque overlapping planes and shapes.A cubist interpretation of the Florida State softball team's power surge and bounce-back victory over UNC.Stanford Today

The No. 12 ranked Florida State softball team defeated the University of North Carolina 8-4 on Tuesday, led by a strong offensive start that included a three-run homer from Kennedy Harp in the first inning. The Seminoles were looking to bounce back after being swept by Stanford in their previous series.

Why it matters

Florida State's softball program is a perennial powerhouse, and this win over a conference rival like UNC helps them maintain their position as one of the top teams in the country. The Seminoles were coming off a tough losing streak, so this victory could provide a much-needed boost of confidence as they look to make a deep postseason run.

The details

Florida State jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by Kennedy Harp's three-run homer. The Seminoles' strong offensive start was backed by a solid pitching performance from Jazzy Francik, who went the distance for the complete game victory. North Carolina was able to cut the deficit to 5-4 at one point, but Florida State added some insurance runs late to secure the 8-4 win.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Lonni Alameda

The head coach of the Florida State softball team.

Kennedy Harp

A Florida State softball player who hit a three-run homer in the first inning.

Jazzy Francik

The Florida State pitcher who went the distance for the complete game victory.

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What they’re saying

“Lonni Alameda on how FSU softball losing slump, preparing for UNC”

— Lonni Alameda, Florida State softball coach

What’s next

Florida State will look to build on this win as they continue their conference schedule, with a key series against rival Florida coming up in the next few weeks.

The takeaway

This victory shows the resilience of the Florida State softball team, as they were able to bounce back from a tough losing streak with a decisive win over a conference opponent. The Seminoles' powerful offense and strong pitching performance were the keys to this important victory.