🏹 April 5th - The Chief Brief 🏹

Big Swings, Big Stars, Big-Time Visitors

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The Chief
April 05, 2025

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Today’s Poll

📊 Today’s Poll: Who deserves the game ball this week?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Saturday, Seminole!

If you like walk-offs, wire-to-wire golf drama, and a pipeline of elite talent rolling through Tallahassee — this edition of The Chief Brief is for you.

We’re talking…

⚾️ Baseball magic under the lights, as Max Williams walks off Wake Forest in front of a sold-out crowd at The Mac.

🏌️‍♀️ Lottie Woad and Mirabel Ting putting FSU women’s golf on the world map — Woad is on the verge of ANWA history, and Ting just added another trophy to the case.

🏀 Historic All-America seasons for Ta’Niya Latson and Makayla Timpson, who continue rewriting the FSU record book — with one more national showcase ahead.

🏐 Beach volleyball battling ranked foes, tennis pushing top-15 teams to the brink, and softball getting ready for another weekend at JoAnne Graf.

🔭 And of course, recruiting is heating up. A huge weekend of campus visits is here, with 4-star QBs, blue-chip receivers, and key 2026–27 prospects lining up to see what the Noles are building under Norvell & Malzahn.

So grab your coffee, toss on your Garnet & Gold, and let’s dive into a weekend edition that’s stacked from top to bottom.

Let’s ride. 🎯

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⚾ WALK. IT. OFF. Noles Stun Wake in Instant Classic at The Mac

In front of a sold-out Dick Howser Stadium packed with the Marching Chiefs, No. 4 Florida State Baseball (25–4, 8–2 ACC) delivered magic under the lights — walking off No. 11 Wake Forest, 5–4, in the opener of a top-five ACC showdown. 🎆

🔥 Max Williams played the hero, lacing an RBI single to left in the ninth to bring home Gage Harrelson for FSU’s second walk-off win in less than two weeks — and first at home in 2025.

💣 Lodise Does It Again
Junior shortstop Alex Lodise blasted his 12th HR of the season (and 37th career) to open the scoring in the 3rd. He finished with 2 hits and 2 RBI, while Cal Fisher added 3 hits and 2 RBI of his own.

🎯 On the Mound:
• Jamie Arnold: 5.0 IP, 10 K, 0 R — season-high strikeouts
• Bullpen: 4.0 IP, 1 R, 5 K — lockdown late
• Peyton Prescott: Earned the W, improving to 3–0

🔒 The Deacs were held to just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.

📍 Series Snapshot:
• FSU is now 98–38 all-time vs. Wake and 52–16 at home
• The Noles have taken the first game in all 8 series this season
• Saturday = Military Appreciation 🇺🇸 | Sunday = First Responders Day 👮‍♂️🚒

🎟️ Sunday tickets available → Get them here
📺 ACCNX (Sat @ 4PM | Sun @ 1PM)

🏀 Latson & Timpson Earn WBCA All-America Honors

The awards keep rolling in for Florida State Women’s Basketball stars Ta’Niya Latson and Makayla Timpson — who were both named WBCA Coaches’ All-America Honorable Mentions this week. 💫

🔥 Latson’s 2024–25 Resume:
• Nation’s leading scorer: 25.2 PPG
• FSU single-season scoring record: 731 points
• Fastest player in program history to reach 2,000 career points
• 4x All-American this season (6 career) — most in FSU history

💪 Timpson’s Dominance:
• FSU’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,085) and double-doubles (47)
• Set new single-season marks in rebounds (350) and blocks (103)
• 16 double-doubles this year — second-most in program history

🗓️ What’s Next:
Timpson and O’Mariah Gordon will represent the Noles at the Women’s College All-Star Game on Saturday at 3 PM in Tampa (📺 ESPN2).

🏌️‍♀️ Ting Named ACC Golfer of the Month (Again)

Florida State star Mirabel Ting is on a tear — and the ACC has taken notice.

🔥 Ting was named ACC Golfer of the Month for March — her third such honor (Mar ‘24, Sep ‘24, Mar ‘25) — after a record-setting stretch that included:

🏆 2 Individual Wins
• -11 at Briar’s Creek (133)
• -16 at FSU Match Up (200 — school record)

💣 24 strokes under par across two events
💯 66.60 scoring average in March
📈 68.50 season average — best in FSU history
🥇 6 career wins as a Seminole — tied for most ever

Ting is peaking as the Noles head into ACC Championship play (April 16–19). And with five wins in her last six events, she’s already put together one of the most dominant seasons in program history.

⛳ Woad Locked In for ANWA Championship Saturday at Augusta

Florida State’s Lottie Woad is just 18 holes away from history. The junior All-American is tied for first entering Saturday’s final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur — aiming to become the tournament’s first two-time and back-to-back champion. 👑

📈 Woad by the Numbers:
• 5️⃣ straight rounds under par at ANWA — a tournament record
• 🔥 17 under over her last 6 ANWA rounds
• 🧠 3 ANWA appearances | 15 under total | T13 + 1st finish so far
• 👣 36 competitive holes played at Augusta National

💬 Coach Amy Bond: “Her wedge game is elite, and when the putter’s hot… it’s fun to watch.”

🎯 Woad tees off at 10:20 AM ET on Saturday. She’ll be backed by her entire Seminole team, her family, and a growing FSU fanbase ready to witness golf history.

💬 Woad: “I’ve got a game plan that works here… now I just need a good start.”

📺 Catch the final round on NBC and Peacock — this one’s appointment viewing.

🏖️ Beach Noles Split Day 1 at Unconquered Invitational

The No. 5 Florida State Beach Volleyball team opened the Unconquered Invitational with a gritty 1–1 day — taking down No. 10 LSU and falling just short in a tight battle vs. No. 8 Texas. 🏐🔥

🎯 Match 1 – vs. Texas (L, 2–3)
• Audrey Koenig & Alexis Durish: 3-set win on Court 1
• Gella Andrew & Maddie Trusty: Gritty dub on Court 2
• Decided in a narrow 15–13 third set on Court 5

🎯 Match 2 – vs. LSU (W, 3–2)
• Andrew & Trusty: 21–11 win in Set 2, cruise on Court 2
• Koenig & Durish: Second win of the day on Court 1
• Hultquist & Wolfe: Clutch closer — 15–10 third set on Court 4 sealed it

📍 Up Next (Saturday):
• 🆚 USF – 9:00 AM (Seminole Heritage Celebration)
• 🆚 No. 15 FAU – 11:30 AM
• 🆚 South Carolina – 3:15 PM (Senior Day)

Let’s pack the sand and close out the home season strong!

🏖️ Beach Noles Split Day 1 at Unconquered Invitational

The No. 5 Florida State Beach Volleyball team opened the Unconquered Invitational with a gritty 1–1 day — taking down No. 10 LSU and falling just short in a tight battle vs. No. 8 Texas. 🏐🔥

🎯 Match 1 – vs. Texas (L, 2–3)
• Audrey Koenig & Alexis Durish: 3-set win on Court 1
• Gella Andrew & Maddie Trusty: Gritty dub on Court 2
• Decided in a narrow 15–13 third set on Court 5

🎯 Match 2 – vs. LSU (W, 3–2)
• Andrew & Trusty: 21–11 win in Set 2, cruise on Court 2
• Koenig & Durish: Second win of the day on Court 1
• Hultquist & Wolfe: Clutch closer — 15–10 third set on Court 4 sealed it

📍 Up Next (Saturday):
• 🆚 USF – 9:00 AM (Seminole Heritage Celebration)
• 🆚 No. 15 FAU – 11:30 AM
• 🆚 South Carolina – 3:15 PM (Senior Day)

Let’s pack the sand and close out the home season strong!

🎾 Noles Battle, Fall Late to No. 12 NC State

The No. 75 Florida State Women’s Tennis team pushed No. 12 NC State to the brink on Friday evening but ultimately dropped a hard-fought 4–2 match at the Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center. 🎾🔥

💪 Doubles Spark:
• Millie Bissett & Tina Li — 6–4 win in debut pairing
• Maelie Monfils & Laura Putz — clinched the point with a 7–5 victory, improving to 6–1 overall

🎯 Singles Highlight:
• Bissett upset No. 68 Zyryanova in straight sets (6–4, 6–2) — her first ranked win of the year!

🧨 Shaw was locked in a 5–5 third-set battle on Court 1 when the match was clinched on Court 4 by NC State.

📍 Up Next: FSU hosts No. 36 Wake Forest on Sunday at noon — it’s Senior Day + Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day with free pizza 🍕 and admission.

👀 Visitor Watch: Big-Time Recruits Headed to Tally for Saturday Scrimmage

Florida State’s second spring scrimmage isn’t just for internal progress — it’s another major recruiting opportunity. The Seminoles are set to welcome a stacked group of top prospects to campus Saturday as they get an up-close look at the action in Doak. 📍🔥

🎯 Names to Know: • Trent Seaborn (’27) – 4⭐️ QB
• Kharim Hughley (’27) – 4⭐️ QB
• Rodney Colton Jr. (’27) – 4⭐️ LB
• Tristian Givens – 4⭐️ EDGE
• Lawrence Britt Jr. – ATH (’27)
• Zykie Helton, Hayden Ainsworth, Ben Mubenga – 3⭐️ OLs
• Xavier Lherisse – 3⭐️ DB (Oregon commit)
• Brooks Moore – Punter
...and over a dozen others from the ’27 and ’28 classes

🏟️ With spring ball heating up and elite talent on campus, it’s a huge weekend for FSU’s future.

💨 WR Targets Darryon Williams & Zion Legree React to Visits

Two key wide receiver recruits made their way to Tallahassee this week — and both left feeling the love from FSU’s staff and the energy of Malzahn’s offense. 🏹🔥

🏃‍♂️ 4⭐️ FSU Commit Darryon Williams

The Tampa speedster has been committed since last year, but is still being courted hard by programs like Florida, Louisville, and UNC. So this spring visit was big.

🗣️ “They need speed — and I’m one of those guys.”
• Met Gus Malzahn for the first time
• Loved what he saw from WR coach Tim Harris Jr.
• Slated to officially visit: UF (June 6), FSU (June 13), Louisville (June 20)

Williams is watching to see how much the Noles actually throw the ball in 2025 — and he liked what he saw in practice.

🧠 Michael’s Take: If FSU shows a strong passing game, they’ll likely hold on to Williams. Having the final official visit (after Florida’s) is a major plus.

🔁 3⭐️ Ole Miss Commit Zion Legree

Legree, out of Niceville, was back on campus Thursday and spoke highly of what he saw from the WR group.

🗣️ “They go for a lot of deep balls... the WRs really impact the team.”

FSU hasn’t offered yet, but he says one could be game-changing.

💬 “I’ve been on FSU since my freshman year… that would change things a lot.”

🧠 Michael’s Take: If FSU pulls the trigger with an offer this spring, watch out. A flip from Ole Miss wouldn’t be shocking.

And that’s a wrap!

From walk-off wins to wire-to-wire golf greatness, it's clear: the Noles aren’t just stacking dubs — they’re building momentum across every field, court, and course. 🔥

If you felt the energy this week — don’t just read, rally.

📩 Forward this to a fellow Nole
🔁 Vote in today’s poll
📅 And get ready for a weekend full of moments

Go Noles. 🍢

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