TALLAHASSEE – No. 10 Florida State (15-4) began the Unconquered Invitational with 12-3 and 5-3 wins over Florida Gulf Coast Thursday evening at JoAnne Graf Field.
 
In game one of the doubleheader, the Seminoles scored three runs in the first inning and eight runs in the third to put the game out of reach. FSU’s 5-6-7 hitters – Kennedy Harp, Makenna Sturgis and Bella Ruggiero – combined to hit 6-for-6 with five runs scored and six RBI.
 
Harp’s two-run home run in the first inning was her first of the season.
 
Starting pitcher Jazzy Francik (7-1) allowed three runs on six hits in 3.2 innings. Makenna Reid faced the minimum and threw just 14 pitches over the final 1.1 innings.
 
In game two, Anna Hinde’s two-run home run with two outs in the sixth inning provided the winning margin in FSU’s 5-3 victory.
 
Florida State and FGCU remained scoreless into the fifth inning before Mackenzie Leiti’s three-run home run gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
 
Florida State answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. After Grace Taylor retired Florida State’s first 12 batters of the contest, Hinde drew a four-pitch walk to start the fifth inning and scored on Harp’s double to the left field wall.
 
Harp scored by avoiding a tag at the plate from the Eagles on a Sturgis groundball, and Bella Ruggiero tied the game with a double that plated Sturgis. Hinde’s home run scored Ashtyn Danley, who reached on a fielder’s choice after Jaysoni Beachum was hit by a pitch.
 
Bella Dimitrijevic (3-1) brushed off Leiti’s home run and retired seven of the Eagles’ final eight batters for her third win of the season. Danley allowed one hit and struck out three in 3.0 scoreless innings as Florida State’s starter.
 
FGCU and Rutgers will play a doubleheader Friday beginning at 11:00 a.m. to continue the Unconquered Invitational. The Seminoles and Scarlet Knights will play a doubleheader beginning at 10:00 a.m.
 
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GAME 1 SCORING SUMMARY:
T1 | FGCU 1, FSU 0              Leiti singled, Meek scored
B1 | FGCU 1, FSU 1              Hinde sacrifice fly, Heller scored
B1 | FGCU 1, FSU 3              Harp home run, Beachum scored
B3 | FGCU 1, FSU 4              Ruggiero doubled, Harp scored
B3 | FGCU 1, FSU 5              Griggs sacrifice bunt, Sturgis scored
B3 | FGCU 1, FSU 6              Bueno grounded out, Ruggiero scored
B3 | FGCU 1, FSU 7              Beachum fielder’s choice, Griggs scored
B3 | FGCU 1, FSU 8              Harp singled, Heller scored

B3 | FGCU 1, FSU 10           Sturgis singled, Beachum & Danley scored
B3 | FGCU 1, FSU 11           Ruggiero walked, Harp scored on throwing error
T4 | FGCU 2, FSU 11            Chiarella singled, Guyden scored
T4 | FGCU 3, FSU 11            Black grounded out, Daniels scored
B4 | FGCU 3, FSU 12           Beachum sacrifice fly, Bueno scored
 
GAME 2 SCORING SUMMARY:

T5 | FGCU 3, FSU 0              Leiti home run, Gibson & Meek scored
B5 | FGCU 3, FSU 1              Harp doubled, Hinde scored
B5 | FGCU 3, FSU 2              Sturgis fielder’s choice, Harp scored
B5 | FGCU 3, FSU 3              Ruggiero doubled, Sturgis scored
B6 | FGCU 3, FSU 5              Hinde home run, Danley scored