🏹 June 7th - The Chief Brief 🏹

“One out away...” — FSU Baseball Faces Do-or-Die Showdown Tonight

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The Chief
June 07, 2025

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Do you think FSU Baseball will bounce back and win the Super Regional?

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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹

Happy Saturday Seminole!

Heartbreak in Oregon, hardware for Lodise, and a recruiting blitz in Tallahassee.

Here’s what we’ve got on deck:

💔 FSU lets one slip away in the Super Regional opener, giving up a 3-run lead with two outs in the ninth. They’ll now need back-to-back wins to keep the Omaha dream alive.

🌟 Alex Lodise continues to stack awards, earning District Player of the Year honors while eyeing a place in Seminole history.

🥎 Three FSU legends return to the diamond as Michaela Edenfield, Jessi Warren, and Kalei Harding launch their pro softball seasons in the AUSL.

⛳ FSU golf adds a national champion with Jack Whaley transferring in after a dominant NAIA season.

🏀 Shahid Muhammad joins FSU hoops as a rim-running shot-blocker — part of a roster overhaul led by new head coach Luke Loucks.

🛡️ Four-star safety Preston Ashley names FSU a finalist, joining a wave of high-stakes recruiting developments.

🔥 Official Visit Weekend ramps up, with 17 visitors in town — including top targets, key flips, and a few crucial commit check-ins.

🎯 FSU basketball brings in three top visitors while making international moves to close the 2025 class.

Let’s dive in 👇

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💔 FSU Collapses Late in Super Regional Game 1 💔

Florida State was one out away from victory — and then it all unraveled.

The Seminoles blew a three-run lead in the ninth and ultimately fell 5–4 in extra innings to Oregon State in Game 1 of the Corvallis Super Regional. The heartbreaking loss puts FSU on the brink of elimination heading into Saturday night.

🔥 How It Happened:
• Joey Volini was masterful: 6.2 IP, 8 K, 0 BB, 1 ER on 104 pitches.
• Myles Bailey crushed a 419-foot bomb to reclaim the lead in the sixth.
• RBI singles from Max Williams and Brody DeLamielleure extended FSU’s lead to 4–1 in the 7th and 8th.
• Joe Charles got FSU to within one out of the win in the 9th — but a walk, a wild pitch, and back-to-back RBI singles tied the game.
• Oregon State walked it off in the 10th with an RBI single to center by AJ Singer.

📺 Up Next: Game 2 — Saturday, 9 PM ET (ESPN2)
Jamie Arnold gets the start with FSU’s season on the line.

🌟 Lodise Adds Another Honor with District POTY Award 🌟

The accolades just keep coming for Alex Lodise.

Florida State’s star shortstop has been named District 3 Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association — adding to a monster 2025 trophy haul that already includes ACC Player of the Year, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and finalist nods for the Golden Spikes, Dick Howser, and Brooks Wallace Awards.

📝 2025 Lodise by the Numbers:
• .405 AVG | 92 H | 67 RBI | 17 HR | .736 SLG | .473 OBP
• 30 multi-hit games in 55 starts
• 7 game-winning hits, including a walk-off grand slam cycle vs. Florida
• .976 fielding % with just 5 errors in 205 chances

Lodise becomes FSU’s first District Player of the Year since Matheu Nelson in 2021 — and continues to rewrite the record books with every at-bat and throw.

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🥎 FSU Stars Return as Athletes Unlimited Season Begins 🥎

Garnet and Gold goes pro.

Three Florida State legends — Michaela Edenfield, Kalei Harding, and Jessi Warren — begin their 2025 Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) season this weekend, as the Volts take on the Blaze Saturday at 7:30 PM on MLB Network.

🔥 Where They’re Playing:
• Jessi Warren (Volts) – FSU’s all-time leader in AVG, HR, RBI, and SLG; 2018 WCWS champ; 7th AU season; 2023 AU Defensive Player of the Year
• Michaela Edenfield (Volts) – “Area 51” finished 3rd in FSU HRs and 2nd in SLG; four-time All-ACC pick
• Kalei Harding (Blaze) – Record-setting pro debut in 2024; ranks top 10 all-time at FSU in HRs, doubles, and RBI

📺 MLB Partnership Expands Reach:
• 16 games airing on ESPN2 or ESPNU
• 5 games on MLB Network
• 30+ games streaming for free on MLB.com and MLB.TV

AUSL will hit 10 cities this summer before transitioning to team-based home cities in 2026. The league wraps with the Championship Series July 22–23 in Tuscaloosa.

⛳ National Champ Jack Whaley Transfers to FSU Men’s Golf ⛳

Florida State just added serious firepower to its golf roster.

Jack Whaley, the reigning NAIA National Champion and 2025 Jack Nicklaus Award winner, is transferring to FSU after two stellar seasons at Dalton State.

🏆 Whaley’s 2025 Highlights:
• Won NAIA National Championship (8-under, 205) — set tournament record with 10 birdies in a 61 at TPC Deere Run
• 5 wins, 9 top-3 finishes, and a 69.52 scoring average across the season
• Two-time PING First Team All-American & NAIA Player of the Year

🌍 International Flair:
• Native of Doncaster, England
• 3rd place at 2023 English Men’s Amateur
• Set to compete in Open Championship Regional Qualifier on June 23 in South Anston

🏀 FSU Adds Rim Protector Shahid Muhammad from UMass 🏀

Florida State basketball has landed a high-flying interior addition.

Shahid Muhammad, a 6’10” forward/center from UMass, has officially signed with the Seminoles after visiting Tallahassee earlier this week. A long, athletic lob threat, Muhammad cited FSU’s fast-paced system and emphasis on rim-running bigs as key reasons for his commitment.

💥 What FSU’s Getting:
• 6’10”, 205 lbs with elite vertical pop
• Averaged 1.5 blocks in 12.5 minutes per game last season
• Shot 63.6% from the floor and added 3.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG across 31 games

🌎 Career Journey:
• Started at Seton Hall → College of Southern Idaho → UMass
• Hails from Queens, NY; prepped at Academy of the New Church (PA)

🧱 Interior Depth Chart Impact:
Muhammad joins a wave of newcomers: six other transfers and two high school signees. He’ll battle for rotation minutes alongside returners AJ Swinton and Alier Maluk.

🛡️ 4⭐ Safety Preston Ashley Names FSU a Finalist 🛡️

Another elite defender has Florida State in his final three.

Preston Ashley, a Top-200 national recruit and four-star safety out of Brandon (Miss.) High, has trimmed his list to Florida State, Florida, and Colorado as he nears a September 6 commitment.

🎯 Why FSU’s in the Mix:
"They’re so special to me since they were one of my first offers,” Ashley told 247Sports. “Me, Coach Surtain, and Coach Norvell have a really tight bond — it always feels like a family atmosphere in Tallahassee."

🧠 What to Know:
• 5’10”, 170 lbs | Class of 2026
• 20+ offers including Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Oregon
• Known for explosive closing speed and sharp instincts in coverage

Ashley becomes one of the most important secondary targets for FSU’s 2026 class — and the Seminoles are well-positioned heading into the home stretch.

🔥 Official Visit Weekend: Flips, Finalists & Firm-ups 🔥

The biggest recruiting weekend of the summer is here — and Florida State has 17 key targets on campus for official visits, including several flip candidates and priority prospects.

👀 Three Things to Watch:

1. Can FSU Flip a Few?
FSU is squarely in the mix for multiple high-profile recruits currently committed elsewhere:
• WR Devin Carter (Auburn commit) – Son of FSU legend Dexter Carter, visiting for the fourth time.
• DB J’Zavien Currence (South Carolina commit) – Strong relationship with staff, possible flip if things click.
• OL Javeion Cooper (Syracuse commit) – OL coach Herb Hand could tip the scales.

2. Closing In on Top Targets
• LB Rodney Colton – FSU vs. Penn State and Ole Miss; staff-NIL combo could seal it.
• LB TJ White – It’s shaping up to be an FSU vs. Auburn battle.
• Others to watch: WR Brandon Bennett, RB Jae Lamar, EDGE Tristian Givens, DB Samari Matthews.

3. Commit Check-In
• RB Amari Thomas (South Carolina interest)
• OL Michael Ionata (Alabama interest)
This weekend could clarify if they’re locked in or wavering — and whether they’ll help recruit others into the fold.

📍 All eyes are on Tallahassee. Expect movement — and momentum — by Monday.

🏀 Hoops Heating Up: 3 Official Visitors + Russian Reinforcements? 🏀

FSU men’s basketball is hosting three official visitors as it works to finalize its 2025 class and build momentum with 2026 targets.

🎯 Three Official Visitors on Campus:

  • Rosario: A Top 100 recruit in 2026 who’s being chased by bluebloods like Duke, Baylor, and Kansas. FSU has been in the mix since the Hamilton era, and there’s buzz he could reclassify to 2025.

  • Semedo & Mateus: Teammates from West Oaks Academy with ties to FSU’s new staff. Both are explosive athletes who fit Luke Loucks’ fast-paced vision — and could fill key frontcourt roles depending on classification.

🌍 International Pipeline Incoming?

  • Jo Van Buggenhout (G): FSU pushed hard, but he’s trending elsewhere.

  • Russian Big Man: Expected to commit to the Seminoles soon. Details remain under wraps, but the addition could give FSU another athletic rim protector.

And that’s a wrap!

A gut-punch in Corvallis sets the stage for a season-defining Game 2, but the vibes in Tallahassee are still buzzing. Lodise keeps raking in hardware, big-time recruits are swarming the 850, and pro Noles are shining on the national stage.

Let’s see how the weekend unfolds — and whether the Garnet & Gold can punch their ticket to Omaha.

See you Monday with the full weekend fallout.
Until then — stay locked, stay loud, and always #KeepClimbing.

– The Chief

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