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🏹 Welcome to The Chief Brief! 🏹
Happy Thursday, Seminole!
A little bit of everything across Seminole athletics today; explosive bats at Howser, another softball win, postseason hoops drama, and early football buzz as spring camp approaches.
Here’s what’s inside today’s edition:
⚾ Historic Inning Powers Baseball Rout ⚾
Florida State erupted for 13 runs in a single inning on the way to a 22–5 win over Mercer, extending the Seminoles’ winning streak to six games.
🥎 Softball Keeps the Momentum Rolling 🥎
The No. 10 Noles handled Jacksonville 7–1 behind timely hitting and steady pitching before heading out for their first true road series.
🏀 Men’s Hoops Pulls Off Road Thriller 🏀
Lajae Jones and Chauncey Wiggins each scored 18 points as Florida State edged Pitt 75–74 for its ninth ACC win.
🏊♀️ Noles Send Swimmers to Nationals 🏊♀️
Florida State secured two individual qualifiers and two relay teams for the upcoming NCAA Championships in Atlanta.
⛳ Women’s Golf Nearly Takes the Title ⛳
Elin Pudas Remler finished second individually while the Seminoles placed runner-up in a loaded field at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate.
🏀 Women’s Basketball Season Ends 🏀
The Seminoles fell to Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament, closing out the 2025–26 campaign.
🥍 Lacrosse Drops Road Matchup 🥍
Florida State fell at Louisville in an ACC clash that included a lengthy weather delay.
🏈 Spring Football Buzz Begins 🏈
As Tour of Duty wraps up, several players — including key transfers and young contributors — are generating buzz heading into spring practice.
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⚾💥 Noles Explode for 22 Runs in Mercer Rout 💥⚾
Florida State followed up its walk-off win with an offensive avalanche Wednesday night.
The No. 20 Seminoles crushed Mercer 22–5 in seven innings, highlighted by a 13-run second inning, tying for the sixth-most runs in a single frame in program history.
🔥 Historic Second Inning
13 runs scored in the second inning
Most runs in an inning for FSU since 2007
The rally included 4 hits, 4 walks, 4 hit batters, and an error
Florida State flipped a 1–0 deficit into a 13–1 lead before Mercer could settle back in.
🚀 Freshmen Spark the Surge
Will Bavaro: First career start, HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs
John Stuetzer: 2 hits, 3 RBI, 3 runs
Kelvyn Paulino Jr.: 2-RBI single in the fifth
Bavaro’s three-run homer capped the massive second inning; his first career hit and RBI.
💣 More Firepower
Noah Sheffield: First career HR, 4 RBI
10 Seminoles recorded a hit
7 players drove in runs
The balanced lineup produced 22 runs on 13 hits, overwhelming Mercer early.
🔒 Pitching Handles the Rest
Cooper Whited: 3.0 IP, 1 run, win in first FSU start
Cole Stokes: Scoreless relief to maintain the lead
The staff held Mercer to five runs on 11 hits as the offense handled the rest.
🧠 Big Picture
Two nights, two very different wins.
Tuesday required patience and a walk-off. Wednesday required nothing but bats.
Florida State has now won six straight, improved to 10–2 overall, and remains perfect at home (8–0).
📍 What’s Next
The Seminoles wrap up their nine-game homestand with a weekend series against Northern Kentucky (March 6–8) at Dick Howser Stadium.
🥎🔥 No. 10 Noles Take Down Jacksonville 🔥🥎
Florida State kept its momentum rolling Wednesday afternoon.
The No. 10 Seminoles defeated Jacksonville 7–1 at JoAnne Graf Field, improving to 18–4 before heading out for their first true road series of the season.
🚀 Early Offense
Marin Heller: RBI triple to open the scoring
Isa Torres: Two-run double in the second
FSU built a 4–0 lead in the second inning
Heller later scored on a wild pitch, while Torres’ double brought home two more to break the game open early.
💣 Fifth-Inning Insurance
Bella Ruggiero: First career triple, 2 RBI
Makenna Sturgis: RBI bloop single
Ruggiero cleared the bases with a triple to push the lead to 6–1 before Sturgis added another run.
🔒 Pitching Holds Firm
Jazzy Francik: 3 scoreless innings with clutch strikeouts
Ashtyn Danley: Limited damage in the fifth
Makenna Reid: 2 IP, 4 strikeouts to close it out
The staff combined to keep Jacksonville largely in check, stranding multiple runners in scoring position.
🧠 Big Picture
Florida State continues stacking wins with a balanced formula: early offense, deep pitching, and aggressive baserunning.
📍 What’s Next
The Seminoles travel to Coastal Carolina for their first true road series of the season beginning Friday.
🏀🔥 Noles Edge Pitt to Secure Ninth ACC Win 🔥🏀
Florida State closed its road schedule with a gritty win Wednesday night.
The Seminoles defeated Pitt 75–74 at the Petersen Events Center, improving to 16–14 overall and 9–8 in ACC play.
⭐ Leading the Charge
Lajae Jones: 18 points, 3 three-pointers
Chauncey Wiggins: 18 points, 4 made threes
Wiggins has now scored in double figures in three straight games, while Jones reached double digits for the 20th time this season.
🚀 First-Half Surge
FSU shot 60% from the field
8-for-14 from three (57%)
Built a 46–30 halftime lead
A 12–3 run sparked by AJ Swinton’s put-back dunk helped Florida State seize control early.
💪 Key Contributions
Robert McCray V: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals
Thomas Bassong: 8 points, 8 rebounds
McCray sealed the win with two clutch free throws in the final seconds.
🧠 Big Picture
Florida State has now won four straight ACC road games, continuing one of the program’s strongest conference road stretches in recent years.
📍 What’s Next
The Seminoles return to Tallahassee to face SMU on Saturday (2 p.m. ET) in their final regular-season game.
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🏊♀️🏆 Noles Send Four Entries to NCAA Championships 🏆🏊♀️
Florida State will be represented at the 2026 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships with two individual qualifiers and two relay teams heading to Atlanta.
🌟 Individual Qualifiers
Alice Velden: 100 backstroke (school-record 51.48)
Lucy Porter: 200 breaststroke (2:08.77, third-fastest in FSU history)
Velden earns her second NCAA appearance, while Porter punches her ticket as a spring-enrollee freshman.
🚀 Relay Teams Qualify
200 Freestyle Relay: McDade, Velden, Evans, Hardman (1:28.77)
200 Medley Relay: Velden, Mansson, McDade, Hardman (1:35.43)
Both relay teams secured spots with strong performances during the postseason stretch.
📍 What’s Next
The NCAA Championships run March 18–21 at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta, while FSU divers attempt to qualify this weekend at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
⛳🥈 Pudas Remler, Noles Finish Runner-Up at Darius Rucker 🥈⛳
Florida State delivered one of its strongest performances of the season at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate.
Sophomore Elin Pudas Remler finished second individually, while the No. 24 Seminoles placed second as a team, falling to No. 9 Texas by just two strokes (854–856).
🌟 Pudas Remler’s Career Performance
2nd place finish (career best)
Scores: 69–66–72 (207 total)
Lost the individual title by one stroke
Her three-round total marked the best tournament score of her career.
📊 Strong Team Showing
Sophia Fullbrook: T-8 (213, even par)
Haruhi Nakatani: T-21 (217)
Florida State finished ahead of several top programs, including No. 5 Auburn, No. 6 Wake Forest, No. 12 Duke, and defending national champion Northwestern.
🧠 Big Picture
The Seminoles battled one of the nation’s best fields all the way to the final hole and nearly took the title.
📍 What’s Next
FSU returns to action at the Old Barnwell Match Play Championship (March 16–17) before hosting the Florida State Match Up (March 20–22) in Tallahassee.
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🏀📉 Noles Fall to Georgia Tech in ACC Tournament 📉🏀
Florida State’s season came to an end Wednesday afternoon.
The Seminoles fell to Georgia Tech 72–60 in the opening round of the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament, finishing the year 10–21 overall (5–13 ACC).
⭐ Leading Performers
Sydney Bowles: 16 points (7-of-16 shooting)
Solè Williams: 8 points, team-high 4 assists
Mari Gerton: 8 points off the bench, 2-for-3 from three
Gerton provided a spark late, knocking down back-to-back threes to help cut into the deficit.
🛡️ Defensive Effort
16 forced turnovers
9 steals by the Seminoles
Tatum Greene: Team-high 8 rebounds
FSU converted those turnovers into 21 points, keeping the game within reach for stretches.
🥍📉 Noles Fall at Louisville Amid Weather Delay 📉🥍
Florida State dropped a road ACC matchup Wednesday afternoon.
The Seminoles fell 15–5 to Louisville, moving to 2–6 overall and 0–4 in ACC play.
⚡ Early Moment
Alyssa Deacy answered Louisville’s early run with an 8-meter goal assisted by Brooke Long, cutting the deficit to 2–1.
The game was delayed nearly two hours due to weather, and Louisville surged afterward.
📊 Key Performances
Meg Kenny: Team-leading 13th goal of the season
Alyssa Deacy: 2 goals
Julia Ward: Career-high 11 saves (program single-game record)
Ward’s performance in goal provided one of the afternoon’s bright spots for the Seminoles.
📍 What’s Next
FSU returns home to face No. 20 Virginia on Sunday (12 p.m. ET) at the Seminole Lacrosse Complex.
🏈👀 Standouts Emerging as Spring Camp Nears 👀🏈
Florida State’s Tour of Duty offseason workouts are wrapping up, and a few names are starting to surface as spring practice approaches Monday.
Sources around the program point to several players finishing the conditioning period strong.
💎 Turquoise Jersey Earners
Ashlynd Barker (S)
K.J. Kirkland (S)
Andrè Otto (OL)
Nate Pabst (OL)
Chimdia Nwaiwu (OL)
Chase Loftin (TE)
The turquoise jerseys are awarded to players who consistently score highly in performance, effort, and attention to detail during Tour of Duty drills.
🚀 Name Generating Buzz
Chimdia Nwaiwu (OL transfer) – Athletic tools and work ethic drawing strong praise; could compete for the right tackle job.
Xavier Chaplin (LT transfer) – Sources say the Auburn transfer has “turned a corner” during workouts.
Samuel Singleton (RB) – Continues popping up as a potential contributor in the running back rotation.
🛡️ Defensive Notes
Mikai Gbayor (LB) – Movement skills standing out during conditioning.
Caleb LaVallee (LB) – Reportedly moving well after injury setbacks.
Nehemiah Chandler (CB) – Looking the part as a potential CB2 option.
Quindarrius Jones (CB) – Coaches seeing signs of maturation after a season-ending injury.
🧠 Big Picture
Tour of Duty performances don’t decide starting jobs but they often hint at who’s building momentum before spring practice begins.
📍 What’s Next
Spring football practice begins Monday in Tallahassee as Florida State begins installing the 2026 roster on the field.
And that’s a wrap!
One night after a walk-off, Florida State turned around and dropped 22 runs in seven innings.
Softball keeps stacking wins.
Basketball survives a road thriller.
And football spring practice is about to begin.
March is here and things are starting to heat up across Tallahassee.
We’ll see you tomorrow morning.
— The Chief Brief 🏹
