In a dominant display of pitching and power, the No. 10 Florida State Seminoles rolled past Boston College on Saturday, with ace Ashtyn Danley delivering a season-best performance in the circle.
Danley was nearly untouchable, striking out seven Eagles and allowing just one hit over five innings. The only blemish? A sneaky hit down the line in the fourth inning that broke up what would have been a second straight no-hitter for FSU against BC. But with a double play erasing the runner in both the first and second innings, Danley made sure the Eagles never found their rhythm.
The Seminoles’ offense, meanwhile, came out swinging from the first pitch. After a leadoff strikeout, Jaysoni Beachum drew a walk, and back-to-back singles loaded the bases. Bella Ruggiero stepped up and delivered a two-RBI single, putting FSU up 2-0 early—and the Noles never looked back.
The fireworks continued in the second inning. Isa Torres reached on an infield error, and Beachum crushed a moonshot over the left-field scoreboard to extend the lead to 4-0. In the third, freshman Hayley Griggs launched her second home run of the day, a towering blast that made it 6-0. Torres followed with a double, and after a pitching change, Beachum added an RBI double to push the lead to 7-0.
Boston College tried to rally in the bottom of the fourth, finally breaking through with a hit down the line to end the no-hit bid. But Danley slammed the door, and the FSU offense went back to work in the fifth. With one out, Griggs singled, and Makenna Sturgis ripped a double to bring home another run, pushing the Seminoles into run-rule territory.
The 8-0 shutout victory was a statement win for Florida State, showcasing both the firepower of their lineup and the dominance of their pitching staff. For Danley, it was a season-high performance that reminded everyone why the Seminoles are a force to be reckoned with as postseason play approaches.
