FSU Softball Falls to Tennessee at Clearwater Invitational

Seminoles finish tournament 2-2 with positives and negatives to build on

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Florida State softball lost to No. 3 Tennessee 9-1 on Sunday, finishing the Clearwater Invitational tournament with a 2-2 record. Despite the loss, the Seminoles showed promise with their young roster, including strong performances from freshmen players. While the team struggled offensively at times, the pitching staff demonstrated depth but needs to work on consistency.

Why it matters

The Clearwater Invitational provided an early test for the Florida State softball team, which is relying on several freshmen to play key roles this season. The tournament results offer insights into the team's strengths and weaknesses as they prepare to enter ACC play.

The details

Florida State lost to No. 1 Texas Tech by one run, beat FAU and No. 7 UCLA, before falling to Tennessee. The freshmen players, including pitchers Bella Dimitrijevic and Marlee Gaskell, showed promise despite some inconsistencies. Offensively, the top of the lineup with Isa Torres, Marin Heller, and Jaysoni Beachum looked strong, but the Seminoles struggled to find consistent production from the bottom half of the order. The pitching staff also had issues with walks, an area the team will need to improve.

  • The Clearwater Invitational took place in mid-February 2026.

The players

Lonni Alameda

The head coach of the Florida State softball team, who is focused on developing the young roster for the future.

Bella Dimitrijevic

A freshman pitcher for Florida State who showed promise but needs to work on avoiding falling behind in counts.

Marlee Gaskell

Another freshman pitcher for Florida State who needs to improve her control and find the strike zone more consistently.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Seminoles will return to action on Tuesday evening against the University of Louisiana at 6 p.m.

The takeaway

While the Clearwater Invitational had its share of ups and downs for the young Florida State softball team, the experience will be valuable as they continue to develop and prepare for the challenges of ACC play. The Seminoles have shown they have the talent to compete with top programs, but will need to work on refining their consistency, especially on offense and in the pitching staff.