Florida State softball has been busy navigating what has been a tough offseason, and the Noles just made a move that should have fans feeling a whole lot better about what’s ahead.
Stetson first baseman Nicole Edmiaston has committed to Florida State, telling Noles247, “This felt like the right place to grow as a player, student, and person. I’m excited to get to work and be part of something special.” No formal announcement has come yet, but if you need confirmation, her Instagram bio already tells the story.
FSU finished the 2026 season 52-10 and lost in a winner-take-all Game 7 against UCF in the Tallahassee Regional final. It was a gut-punch ending to an otherwise excellent season, and it came right before the roster took a significant hit.
Jaysoni Beachum, the 2024 NFCA National Freshman of the Year who earned Third Team All-American honors in 2026, entered the transfer portal. So did Isa Torres, the 2026 ACC Player of the Year and two-time NFCA First Team All-American who was arguably the best player in the country during the regular season. Two elite power producers, gone. The lineup needed a jolt. Edmiaston is exactly that.
Who is FSU Getting as a Player?
Edmiaston was the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year after a breakout junior season at Stetson. She started all 57 games and hit .453 with a .561 on-base percentage and a .900 slugging percentage, all of which set single-season program records. She racked up 77 hits, including a program-record 23 home runs, and drove in 70 runs while drawing 41 walks. She also set Stetson’s program record with 153 total bases and earned First Team NFCA All-Region recognition.
That’s not a small-conference fluke, either. The numbers check every box you look for in an elite power hitter: elite slugging, tremendous contact rate, and outstanding plate discipline with 41 walks against just 12 strikeouts. Edmiaston captured the ASUN Triple Crown in what was a truly remarkable season from wire to wire.
Her path to Tallahassee has been a two-step journey worth noting. She spent time at Florida SouthWestern State before transferring to Stetson, where she became a force at the ASUN level. Now she brings that experience and production to one of the premier programs in the country for her final season of eligibility.
And she’s already made her presence felt against the Noles. Edmiaston hit a home run against FSU during the Tallahassee Regional while going 2-for-8 with a walk across two games against the Seminoles. She knows what FSU looks like up close. Now she’ll be wearing garnet and gold.
What This Means for the 2027 Roster
The most immediate impact is at first base. With Edmiaston locking down first, Hayley Griggs gains flexibility to use her athletic ability elsewhere on the infield. That’s a meaningful development. Griggs was FSU’s primary first baseman as a freshman, finishing with 42 starts at the position while also seeing time in left field and occasionally covering shortstop when Torres missed time with a concussion. She hit .275 with seven home runs and 31 RBI. Griggs is clearly a talented player with versatility and having Edmiaston anchor first base rather than trying to develop a freshman there could allow Lonni Alameda to deploy her where she does even more damage.
More broadly, this is about replacing raw power. Torres and Beachum were two of the most dangerous hitters in the ACC. Edmiaston is a legitimate answer to that problem. Her .453/.561/.900 slash line and 23 home runs aren’t just impressive in conference context, they’re elite numbers by any measure. The knock on FSU late in the 2026 season was a lack of consistent pop in the lineup when it mattered most. Edmiaston’s presence changes that equation.
Final Thoughts
It’s fair to acknowledge that Edmiaston did this against ASUN competition, which is a step down from the ACC. The jump in competition level is real. Power hitters who transfer into bigger programs don’t always replicate their numbers overnight.
That said, her underlying approach at the plate is what gives me confidence. The walk rate, the strikeout rate, the total-base production, all of it points to a hitter who works counts and doesn’t chase. Those skills translate. And she’s had two seasons of college ball under her belt already, so she’s not arriving as an inexperienced freshman trying to figure out Division I pitching for the first time.
This is the first commitment for an FSU softball program that lost two key pieces in Torres and Beachum to the transfer portal, and head coach Lonni Alameda figures to remain active in the portal as roster construction continues for 2027. Edmiaston is a great start.
Honestly, I like this move. The Noles needed a proven bat with power and presence, and they found one in a player who already knows what it feels like to face this program on a big stage. Welcome to Tallahassee, Nicole. Thanks for reading and Go Noles!