Seminole Sunday Summary: FSU Softball Goes 3-1 in JoAnne Graf Classic

Florida State’s 2021 softball season is officially underway.

The Seminoles kicked off the season with three wins in four tries at the JoAnne Graf Classic in Tallahassee. FSU felt very little resistance on Friday, beating Memphis and Missouri by a combined 18-2 score.

After blasting Memphis 9-0 in five innings, FSU pulled away from Missouri for a 9-2 victory. Kiersten Landers’ grand slam highlighted the win over Memphis. Elizabeth Mason left the yard in the victory over Missouri and the Seminoles blew a 2-2 game open with four runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh.

Saturday’s contests featured much more resistance. In a 3-2 win over Memphis, FSU trailed 2-1 in the fifth before Cassidy Davis and Mason came through with back-to-back home runs.

The first loss of the season came against Missouri on Saturday, 9-5. The Tigers raced to a 6-0 lead, but FSU drew to within one with a 5-run third inning. Jahni Kerr and Mason each hit 2-run homers in the inning.

Mason finished with three home runs over the four games. Brooke Wilmes was 5-for-5 in the finale for Missouri with three runs scored and three RBIs. The Tigers finished with 17 hits in the win.

At 3-1 on the young season, FSU will have two days off before hosting Southern Mississippi on Tuesday. That’ll be FSU’s last game at JoAnne Graf Field before the Unconquered Invitational, which begins on Feb. 26.

Football

Weekly Commitments: None
Weekly Decommitments: None
2022 Recruiting Class Ranking*: No. 7 nationally, first in ACC (5 total commitments)*
Big Picture: FSU’s “Tour of Duty” is underway as the spring game is less than two months away.

Men’s Basketball

Record: 11-3 (7-2 ACC)
Ranking: No. 17 AP Poll; No. 19 Amway Coaches Poll
Past Week: (1-0), beat Wake Forest in overtime on Saturday, 92-85
Upcoming: vs. Virginia (Monday); vs. Virginia Tech (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Weekly Commitments: None
2021 Recruiting Class Ranking*: No. 2 nationally, first in ACC (four total commitments)*
Big Picture: After a long COVID-19 pause, FSU avoided a disaster on Saturday against the Demon Deacons. The next two are at home against ranked teams.

Women’s Basketball

Record: 7-5 (6-5 ACC)
Ranking: None
Past Week: (1-1), lost at Miami on Sunday, 68-52; beat Syracuse on Thursday, 67-52
Upcoming: vs. Miami (Sunday); vs. Georgia Tech (Thursday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: Florida State followed up a disappointing loss at Miami with a huge win over Syracuse. The Seminoles will have the chance to salvage a season split with the rival Hurricanes on Sunday.

Baseball

Ranking: No. 24 D1Baseball; No. 9 Baseball America; No. 16 NCBWA; No. 28 Collegiate Baseball
Upcoming: vs. North Florida (Friday); vs. North Florida (doubleheader Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: Less than a week now separates us from the start of Florida State baseball. The Seminoles were picked to finish third in the ACC Atlantic division.

Swimming and Diving

Ranking: Men No. 15 CSCAA; Women N/A
Past Week: N/A
Upcoming: ACC Championships (Wednesday-Feb. 27)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU begins the ACC Championships this week.

Track and Field

Ranking: Men No. 5 USTFCCCA, No. 6 South; Women No. 14, No. 6 South USTFCCCA
Past Week: Competed in Tyson Invitational on Friday and Saturday
Upcoming: Matador Qualifier (Friday)
Recognitions: Trey Cunningham (The Bowerman watch list)
Big Picture: FSU had a strong showing in Fayetteville with nine top-5 finishes.

Men’s Tennis

Record: 3-3
Ranking: None
Past Week: (0-2), lost to Auburn on Friday, 4-2; lost to Tulane, 4-0
Upcoming: vs. Clemson (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: It was a dismal week for Florida State. The Seminoles fell to .500 on the season and have dropped three straight.

Women’s Tennis

Record: 4-1
Ranking: No. 7 ITA
Past Week: (1-1), lost at Georgia on Sunday, 4-3; beat North Florida on Friday, 4-0
Upcoming: vs. Florida Atlantic (Sunday); vs. Florida A&M (Sunday); at Clemson (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU fought valiantly against Georgia, but suffered its first loss of the season. FSU did bounce back with an easy win at home.

Men’s Golf

Ranking: No. 15 Golfweek Coaches Poll
Past Week: N/A
Upcoming: Seminole Intercollegiate (Friday-Sunday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU returns to the course this week with the Seminole Intercollegiate.

Cross Country

Ranking: Women No. 18 USTFCCCA
Past Week: N/A
Upcoming: FSU XC Last Chance (March 5)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU has nothing scheduled until March.

Softball

Record: 3-1
Ranking: No. 12 NCFA Coaches; No. 10 Softball America; No. 11 D1Softball
Past Week: (3-1), beat Memphis 9-0 on Friday (JoAnne Graf Classic); beat Missouri 9-2 on Friday (JoAnne Graf Classic); beat Memphis 3-2 on Saturday (JoAnne Graf Classic); lost to Missouri 9-5 on Saturday (JoAnne Graf Classic)
Upcoming: vs. Southern Mississippi (Tuesday); at Georgia Tech (doubleheader Thursday); at Georgia Tech (Friday); vs. Virginia Tech (in Atlanta, doubleheader Saturday); vs. Virginia Tech (in Atlanta, Sunday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU was unable to complete a sweep in its home tournament, but performed well with three wins.

Volleyball

Record: 3-3 (3-3 ACC)
Ranking: None
Past Week: (2-0), beat Clemson on Saturday, 3-1; beat Clemson on Saturday, 3-0
Upcoming: vs. Troy (Feb. 26)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: In their first action since the fall, the Seminoles dominated a doubleheader with Clemson.

Women’s Golf

Ranking: N/A
Upcoming: Moon Invitational (Sunday-Tuesday)
Recognitions: None
Big Picture: FSU women’s golf will finally get its season underway this week. Only FSU beach volleyball has not begun its season.

*247Sports Composite rankings

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson