NC State softball hit the road for a challenging ACC weekend series against the No. 7 Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee, Florida. The Wolfpack entered the series looking to make a statement, but the highly-ranked Seminoles (33-5, 9-0 ACC) proved why they are a top-10 team in all three games, sweeping NC State (21-15, 4-8 ACC).

Game 1: Florida State 6, NC State 1

The series opener took place on Friday night under the lights of Joanne Graf Field, where Florida State wasted no time asserting its dominance. The Seminoles struck early, posting three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. The Wolfpack managed to halt the scoring spree with a 4-3 double play to end the frame.

NC State had an early chance to respond in the top of the second when senior right fielder Taylor Ensley recorded the first hit for the Pack with a single to left field. Freshman shortstop Kendall Simmers followed with a single to right, but Florida State’s defense held strong, stranding both runners and ending the inning without any damage.

Florida State extended its lead in the bottom of the second when shortstop Isa Torres launched a two-run homer off sophomore right-handed pitcher Carly Maxton. The blast put the Noles up 5-0, and Maxton’s night in the circle ended with one strikeout after just two innings.

The Wolfpack struggled to generate offense against Florida State’s pitching staff. It wasn’t until the sixth inning that NC State finally broke through. Redshirt junior first baseman Michele Tarpey led off with a solo shot to left field, marking her fourth home run of the season and the only run for the Pack in the contest.

Despite some defensive efforts — including clean innings from the bullpen — and a few key stops in the field, NC State couldn’t overcome the early deficit. The Seminoles shut down any potential late-game rally and closed out the 6-1 victory.

Game 2: Florida State 5, NC State 4

Saturday’s matchup saw a much closer battle as NC State put up a fight and forced the game into extra innings. Despite a resilient effort from the Wolfpack, Florida State ultimately secured a 5-4 win in the bottom of the eighth.

The Wolfpack struck first in the opening frame. Tarpey was hit by a pitch to start the game and later came around to score when redshirt senior catcher Payden Bordeau knocked a single into shallow right field, putting NC State on top 1-0.

However, Florida State quickly responded in the bottom half of the first. A well-placed double, followed by a single, allowed two runs to cross the plate, shifting the lead in the Seminoles’ favor at 2-1.

NC State continued to battle, looking for opportunities to even the score. Taylor Ensley provided a spark in the third inning with a two-out double to left field, but she was left stranded when Florida State picked up the final out.

The Pack finally broke through in the sixth, mounting an impressive rally. Taylor Ensley started things off with her second double of the game, this time to right field. Junior catcher Hannah Church followed with a single down the left field line, allowing freshman pinch-runner Lisey St. Jean to score and cut the deficit to two. Simmers kept the momentum going with a single up the middle, moving junior pinch runner Gabi Wilson into scoring position.

With two runners on, sophomore left fielder Tori Ensley wasted no time, swinging at the first pitch and recording a single to center to load the bases for senior third baseman Hannah Goodwin. Goodwin delivered in the clutch, driving a single up the middle to bring home Wilson and Simmers, tying the game at 4-4.

The game remained deadlocked through the seventh inning, sending it into extras. Unfortunately for NC State, Florida State managed to load the bases in the bottom of the eighth, setting up another crucial at-bat for Torres. With the game on the line, Torres delivered an RBI single, bringing home the game-winning run and sealing the 5-4 walk-off victory for the Seminoles.

Game 3: Florida State 7, NC State 4

The third and final game of the series sealed the sweep for the Seminoles as they clawed their way to a hard-fought 7-4 victory, sending NC State back to Raleigh without a single win to show for their efforts. Despite flashes of offensive promise, the Wolfpack couldn’t overcome Florida State’s resilience and home-field advantage.

NC State struck first in the opening inning when Tarpey worked a leadoff walk, immediately putting pressure on the Seminoles’ defense. Taylor Ensley followed with a sharp single to left field, giving the Pack an early scoring opportunity with two runners on base. A few plays later, Tarpey crossed the plate to give NC State a 1-0 lead. The momentum continued when Simmers stepped up and crushed a towering home run off the outfield wall, bringing Taylor Ensley home and extending the lead to 3-0 before the Seminoles could record the final out of the inning.

However, Florida State wasted no time responding. The bottom of the second inning saw the home team come alive, stringing together key hits and capitalizing on Wolfpack miscues to plate three runs of their own. Just like that, the game was knotted at 3-3, setting the stage for a fierce battle.

The third inning proved uneventful for both squads, as neither could break through with a go-ahead run. But the fourth inning belonged entirely to the Seminoles. Feeding off the energy of their home crowd, FSU’s offense ignited once again, tallying three more runs to take a commanding 6-3 lead. NC State struggled to find an answer as the Seminoles’ defense tightened up and shut down any hopes of an offensive response.

Both teams added a run in the sixth inning, with NC State’s lone tally coming off the bat of Wilson, who managed to scratch one across before the Seminoles once again slammed the door. Florida State’s final push solidified their control, and as the last out was recorded, they celebrated a 7-4 victory — completing the series sweep and sending the Pack home winless.

Despite a strong opening burst from NC State, the Seminoles’ ability to respond quickly and maintain momentum proved too much to handle. With this sweep, FSU continues to assert itself as a powerhouse, while NC State will need to regroup before its next challenge.

The Wolfpack will take on UNC-Greensboro Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.