Stetson shocks ACC champ Florida State in NCAA Softball Tournament upset

Stetson shocks ACC champ Florida State in NCAA Softball Tournament upset

The 2026 NCAA Softball Tournament is underway and has already seen its first upset.

Stetson stunned overall No. 9 seed Florida State 8-3 in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday afternoon. The Seminoles — who were the champions of the ACC this season — are now just one loss away from elimination.

Florida State becomes the third team to be a national seed and lose their regional home opener by four or more runs, joining an infamous group of 2009 Northwestern and 2012 UCLA. The NCAA softball tournament began seeding teams in 2005.

It's the first time since 2009 that Florida State lost its regional home opener.

Stetson had not beaten Florida State in softball since 1987 and entered this game 1-18 all-time against the Seminoles. Friday was the third time this season FSU had given up eight or more runs in a loss.

It was Stetson's second win ever in the NCAA Tournament softball tournament. The Hatters last won in the postseason in 2014 against UCF. Stetson might see the Knights in the winners’ bracket on Saturday, as they’ll face the winner of the second game in Tallahassee between UCF and Jacksonville State. FSU will face the loser.

The Hatters won with their bats and opened the scoring in the second inning when Logan Forman slapped a two-run homer over the left field fence. Stetson piled on in the third inning when Amber Chumley blasted a three-run homer over the right field wall. On Chumley's dinger, Irianis Garcia set the Hatters' single-season program record for runs scored with 54.

Annabella McClerren provided more offense for the Hatters in the fourth inning, notching a single off a 2-2 pitch that drove in two runs. Chumley drove in another run in the sixth inning with a single into shallow left field.

The Hatters’ surge in offense came without much production from ASUN Player of the Year Nicole Edmiaston, who ranks 12th nationally in batting average with a .465 mark this season. Edmiaston went 1-for-5 at the plate Friday.

Stetson won without striking out a single Florida State batter.

Stetson entered this tournament with a 36-20 overall record after winning its sixth ASUN Conference championship. The Hatters’ offense has been impressive all season, as they set a single-season program record with 76 home runs and grand slams with eight.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA Softball Tournament has its first upset as Stetson stuns Florida State