FSU softball advances to 16th Consecutive ACC Semifinal with win over Notre Dame

DURHAM, N.C. - The second-seeded Florida State softball team (42-13) advanced to its 16th consecutive ACC Tournament Semifinal with a 2-0 win over Notre Dame (27-23) on Thursday evening at the Duke Softball Stadium in Durham, N.C. It was FSU's first shutout in the ACC Tournament since 2021 when they beat North Carolina State 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

The Fighting Irish threatened at the top of the first, putting runners on first and second with one out, but Allison Royalty forced a groundball to Jaysoni Beachum, who started the 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

FSU got its first two batters of the game on base, but a double play stopped the momentum. A pitcher's duel ensued, as neither team was able to score a run until Kennedy Harp, who made just her 15th start of the season, hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the third to give the Seminoles a 1-0 lead.

The Fighting Irish threatened again in the fourth as they loaded the bases with a walk and two hit batters, but Royalty forced a groundball to Beachum to end the inning.

Kalei Harding added an insurance run for the Noles in the bottom of the sixth inning, smacking her 13th home run deep over the center field wall to put the Noles up 2-0. Ashtyn Danley made easy work of the Fighting Irish in the seventh, retiring them to earn her second save of the season.

The Noles were phenomenal in the circle and defensively. Royalty earned the win as she threw four scoreless innings and allowed just three hits. Danley came in and threw the final three innings and allowed just one hit.

The Seminoles will return on Friday at 3:30 p.m. to face the winner of Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU softball moves on to semifinals after shutting out Notre Dame