Happy Saturday, Seminoles!

Another dominant stretch for the Noles as FSU teams continue to shine across the board!

From statement wins on the field and court to high-stakes recruiting battles, there’s plenty to break down.

Baseball set records, softball battled through a thriller, and football is making moves on the recruiting trail.

Let’s dive in! 🔥

🔥 In This Edition: ⚾ FSU Baseball Erupts for 24-2 Win Over Penn – A record-setting night at Dick Howser as the Noles cruise to a dominant run-rule victory.

🥎 Softball Sweeps Southeastern Louisiana – A dramatic extra-inning win highlights a gutsy doubleheader sweep for the Noles.

🏐 FSU Beach Volleyball Stays Perfect – The Noles go 3-0 at the Beach Burg Invitational, taking down No. 8 LSU in a thriller.

🏊‍♂️ FSU Swimming & Diving Shines at ACC Championships – Freshman Michel Arkhangelskiy sets a new school record in the 100 fly.

🎾 FSU Women’s Tennis Begins Road Stretch – The undefeated Seminoles hit the road for a month-long slate.

🏀 Taylor Bol Bowen Emerging as Defensive Force – The sophomore forward is making his presence felt as a top shot-blocker in the ACC.

🎾 FSU Men’s Tennis Faces No. 9 Texas A&M – A ranked road battle wraps up non-conference play.

🏈 FSU Pushing for 4⭐ WR Brandon Bennett – Speedster wideout sets official visit date as FSU battles top SEC programs.

🏈 4⭐ LB Rodney Colton Jr. Eyes FSU – The highly-rated linebacker plans a March visit as the Seminoles push for his commitment.

Scroll down for the latest updates, key stats, and what’s next for the Noles! 🔥

Florida State (5-0) dominated Penn (0-1) in record-setting fashion, cruising to a 24-2 run-rule victory in seven innings at Dick Howser Stadium on Friday night.

🔥 Key Stats & Performances:
✅ Drew Faurot – 3-for-4, 5 RBI, 3 R, 3-run HR (team-leading 3rd of the season)
✅ Gage Harrelson – 4-for-5, RBI, 3 R (ties career high in hits)
✅ Nathan Cmeyla – 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 2 R
✅ Cal Fisher – 2-for-4, 4 RBI, 2 R
✅ Jamie Arnold (W, 2-0) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 8 Ks
✅ Jace Estes – 2-for-2, 1st career hits & 2 RBI

🚀 Offensive Explosion:
🔹 24 runs on 20 hits – Most runs since last year’s Super Regional win over UConn (24-4)
🔹 22-run margin of victory – Largest since 2015 (24-1 vs. USF)
🔹 Six players with multiple hits & RBI
🔹 First 13 runs came on singles – No extra-base hits needed!

🔥 How It Happened:
🔸 1st Inning: FSU jumps out 5-0 with RBI from Fisher, Bailey, and Williams.
🔸 2nd Inning: Another five-run frame doubles the lead to 10-0.
🔸 4th Inning: Faurot’s 3-run HR makes it 17-0.
🔸 6th Inning: A seven-run explosion seals the run-rule victory.

⚾ Lockdown Pitching:
🔺 Jamie Arnold (W, 2-0) – 5.0 IP, 8 Ks, 0 ER (retired 12 straight batters)
🔺 FSU bullpen (Greaney, Marlowe) – 2.0 IP, 2 Ks, 0 ER

📅 What’s Next?
🔥 FSU vs. Penn – Game 2 🕑 Saturday, 2:00 PM ET (Sold Out)
🔥 FSU vs. Penn – Game 3 🕐 Sunday, 1:00 PM ET (Tickets Available)

🎟️ Game Day Promotions:
🪖 Military Saturday: Honoring veterans & student veterans
🎁 Sunday: Koozie giveaway + Kids Club Day (kids run the bases postgame!)

🔗 More on FSU’s dominant win here.

Florida State (11-1) showed grit in a Thursday night sweep over Southeastern Louisiana (9-5) at the JoAnne Graf Classic, shutting out the Lions 5-0 in Game 1 before staging a dramatic 5-4 extra-inning comeback in Game 2.

🔥 Key Stats & Performances:
✅ Michaela Edenfield – 2-RBI triple, 2 BB
✅ Isa Torres – 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI
✅ Jaysoni Beachum – 2-for-5, 2 RBI, game-winning hit
✅ Ashtyn Danley (W, 3-0) – 7.0 IP, 1 H, 9 Ks (career-high)
✅ Jazzy Francik (Save, 2nd of season) – 2.2 IP, 0 ER

🚀 How It Happened:
🔹 Game 1: Pitching dominance from Julia Apsel (4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER) and Francik’s clutch relief secured a 5-0 win. Edenfield’s two-run triple sparked the offense.
🔹 Game 2: Down 4-0 after two innings, the Noles chipped away with runs in the 3rd, 5th, and a game-tying 7th-inning rally. In the 9th, Beachum’s walk-off single sealed the comeback.

📅 What’s Next?
🔥 FSU vs. No. 6 Texas A&M – Doubleheader 🕒 Today, 3:00 PM ET (ACCNX)

Read more here

The Seminoles (3-0) dominated on day one of the Beach Burg Invitational, taking down North Alabama, No. 8 LSU, and Spring Hill College.

🔥 Key Stats & Performances:
✅ Alexis Durish & Audrey Koenig – Dominant court one win vs. North Alabama (21-15, 21-13)
✅ Kenzie Hultquist & McKenna Flaherty – Clutch court five win vs. LSU (21-13, 21-19)
✅ Bailey Higgins & Carra Sassack – Biggest margin of victory (21-11, 21-7 vs. North Alabama)
✅ Koenig’s 3rd-set aces – Led FSU to clinch duel vs. LSU

🚀 How It Happened:
🔹 FSU vs. North Alabama: 4-1 win, highlighted by dominant performances on courts one and three.
🔹 FSU vs. No. 8 LSU: 3-2 thriller, clinched on a dramatic three-set battle on court one. Koenig’s early aces powered the Noles to victory.
🔹 FSU vs. Spring Hill College: Clean 5-0 sweep with dominant wins across the board.

📅 What’s Next?
🔥 FSU vs. FGCU – 🕚 Today, 11:10 AM ET
🔥 FSU vs. Southern Miss – 🕞 Today, 3:30 PM ET

Read more here

Freshman Michel Arkhangelskiy’s ACC title in the 100 butterfly fueled Florida State (No. 18/25) on day four of the ACC Championships in Greensboro, NC. The Seminoles notched seven top-eight finishes and set four school records.

🔥 Key Stats & Performances:
✅ Michel Arkhangelskiy – Gold in 100 butterfly (44.49, school record)
✅ Logan Robinson – 5th in 200 fly (1:40.34, school record)
✅ Maddy Huggins – 4th in 100 breaststroke (59.08)
✅ Men’s 400 Medley Relay – 4th place, FSU record (3:02.33)
✅ Women’s 400 Medley Relay – 6th place, FSU record (3:31.04)

🚀 How It Happened:
🔹 Arkhangelskiy dominated, winning gold and setting a program-best 100 butterfly time.
🔹 Logan Robinson broke his own school record in the 200 fly while finishing 5th.
🔹 The Seminoles excelled in relays, with both the men’s and women’s 400 medley squads breaking school records.
🔹 Three freshmen contributed in platform diving, led by Noah Turner’s 10th-place finish (321.10).

📅 What’s Next?
🔥 Final Day of ACC Championships – 🕤 Prelims: 9:30 AM ET | Finals: 5:30 PM ET (ACCNX)
🔥 Events: 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, Women’s Platform, 400 Freestyle Relay

Read more here

Florida State women’s tennis (6-0) begins its month-long road stretch Saturday against Charleston Southern at 11:00 AM ET. This marks the first-ever meeting between the Seminoles and Buccaneers.

🔥 Key Stats & Performances:
✅ FSU has won six straight matches and swept five of six opponents.
✅ Doubles Rankings: Maria Juliana Parra Romero & Millie Bissett – No. 45 | Eva Shaw & Parra Romero – No. 86
✅ Singles Rankings: Mary Boyce Deatherage – No. 125 (12-1 record, best FSU freshman start since 1982)
✅ Parra Romero & Shaw: Unbeaten in doubles (7-0 record)

📅 What’s Next?
🔥 FSU vs. Charleston Southern – 🕚 Saturday, 11:00 AM ET

Read more here

Taylor Bol Bowen has become one of the ACC’s most improved players in his sophomore season at Florida State. The 6-10 forward has showcased his elite defensive skills, ranking among the ACC’s top shot blockers.

🔥 Key Stats & Performances:
✅ 15 blocks in last 8 games – 1.5 BPG, ranked 3rd in ACC
✅ Career-high 4 blocks in three games (Pitt, Cal, Miami)
✅ Season-high 20 points vs. Georgia Tech
✅ Clutch 3-pointer to beat Wake Forest

🚀 Impact on FSU:
🔹 Defensive anchor – Uses 7-2 wingspan to block shots & disrupt passing lanes
🔹 Game-changing plays – Hit four 3-pointers in win at Miami
🔹 Leadership growth – A mentor for younger teammates, inspiring defensive excellence

📅 What’s Next?
🔥 FSU vs. Louisville – 🏀 Saturday, 2:00 PM ET

Read more here

Florida State men’s tennis (7-3) wraps up non-conference play with a ranked road matchup against No. 9 Texas A&M on Sunday at 2:00 PM ET at the Mitchell Tennis Center.

🔥 Key Stats & Performances:

✅ Jamie Connel – Leads team with 14 wins (4 ranked, 4 Court 1 victories)

✅ Corey Craig – 10 wins in first season, 5 ranked victories

✅ Dous-Karpenschif & Schiessl – Unbeaten in doubles (6-0 on Court 2)

✅ Ranked Players: Craig – No. 19 in singles | Connel – No. 43 in singles | Bulte & Rihane – No. 5 in doubles | Connel & Craig – No. 57 in doubles

📅 What’s Next? 🔥 FSU vs. No. 9 Texas A&M – 🕑 Sunday, 2:00 PM ET

Read more here

Florida State continues to prioritize top talent in South Florida, with four-star WR Brandon Bennett (Plantation, FL) emerging as a key target for the Seminoles in the 2026 class.

🔥 Recruiting Highlights:

✅ Official Visit Scheduled – Bennett is set to visit FSU the weekend of June 6-8.

✅ Spring Visit Planned – Will also make a trip to Tallahassee in March.

✅ Elite Speed – Clocked a 10.4 in the 100m dash as a sophomore.

✅ Standout Junior Season – 24 catches, 509 yards (21.2 YPC), 7 TDs in 2024.

✅ Special Teams Impact – Returned a 98-yard kickoff for a TD in the state championship.

🏆 Top Contenders: 🔹 FSU, Georgia, Miami, Florida – Bennett has visited both UF and Miami in 2024. 🔹 Texas A&M, Louisville – Also in communication with Bennett.

📅 What’s Next? 🔥 FSU Spring Visit – March (Exact date TBD) 🔥 FSU Official Visit – June 6-8

Read more here

Florida State is making a push for four-star linebacker Rodney Colton Jr. (Newnan, GA), who recently decommitted from South Carolina and is drawing interest from top programs nationwide.

🔥 Recruiting Highlights:

✅ FSU Visit Planned – Colton will visit Tallahassee for the first spring practice on March 19.

✅ Official Visit Coming – Plans to take an official visit to FSU during the season.

✅ Top Prospect – Ranked No. 236 nationally and No. 16 among linebackers (247Sports). ✅ Elite Ranking – No. 167 overall, No. 11 LB in 247Sports Composite Rankings.

🏆 Top Contenders:

🔹 Tennessee – Currently trending for Colton with a Crystal Ball prediction.

🔹 FSU, SMU, Penn State – Other schools in contention; scheduled visits to SMU (May 2-4) and Penn State (May 30 - June 1).

📅 What’s Next?

🔥 FSU Spring Visit – March 19

🔥 FSU Official Visit – Fall 2024

Read more here

With momentum on their side, the Seminoles are hitting their stride across multiple sports. As postseason play nears for some and key matchups loom for others, every performance matters. Can FSU keep the streak alive and continue asserting itself as a force? Stay locked in!

That’s a wrap for today’s edition of The Chief Brief! Be sure to follow along for more updates, and as always – Go Noles! 🍢🔥