Lady Flames Set for Midweek Test at No. 6 Florida State
2/9/2026 11:37:00 AM | Softball
The Liberty softball team continues its challenging schedule to start the 2026 season, taking on No. 6 Florida State (5-0) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at JoAnne Graf Field at Seminole Softball Complex.
Game Coverage
Game Coverage
- Tuesday, Feb. 10
- Liberty at Florida State (JoAnne Graf Field)
- First pitch: 6 p.m.
- Live Video: ACC Network Xtra
- Live Stats: StatBroadcast
- The Lady Flames are in a stretch where six out of their first 10 games of the season are against nationally-ranked opponents who competed in at least the Super Regional round of the 2025 NCAA Division I Softball Championship.
- Despite scoring first against Top 10 opponents Tennessee, Clemson and Oregon, the Lady Flames went winless in five games at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic to open the 2026 season.
- This is Liberty's first-ever trip to Tallahassee, as the Lady Flames' only previous meeting with the Seminoles came in Clearwater, Fla., a 7-1 Florida State win in the last game of the 2020 St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational. Current Liberty pitching coach Emily Kirby Nagle was the Lady Flames' starting pitcher in that contest.
- Liberty entered the season ranked in three separate national polls, appearing as high as No. 21 in the NFCA/GoRout Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Lady Flames finished the 2025 season ranked 15th by both Softball America and D1Softball, 16th in USA Softball and No. 17 in the NFCA poll.
- North Carolina transfer Ella Fox leads the Lady Flames with a .400 batting average, followed by 2025 CUSA All-Conference first team selection Savannah Jessee (.308) and 2025 CUSA Newcomer of the Year Savanah Whatley (.286).
- Seven different pitchers have seen action in the circle for Liberty this season, with two-time all-conference pitcher Kaylan Yoder and Duke transfer Gabby Mike starting twice each. Katie Love made her first pitching start since 2024, getting the starting nod against No. 9 Clemson. The Lady Flames have received relief pitching appearances from Georgia Tech transfer Camden Anders, sophomore Danner Allen and true freshmen Caitlyn Nesbitt and Abigail Findlay.
- The Lady Flames went 50-15 last season, repeating as CUSA regular-season and tournament champions. Liberty knocked off No. 1 Texas A&M twice at the NCAA Bryan-College Station Regional, becoming the first team in the Super Regional era to eliminate the national No. 1 seed in the Regional round.
- Liberty was predicted to win its third straight CUSA title in the preseason coaches' poll, while catcher Savannah Jessee, infielder Savanah Whatley, pitcher Kaylan Yoder and outfielder Paige Doerr were all named to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team.
- The Lady Flames welcome 11 newcomers, including seven freshmen and four transfers.
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