After dropping back-to-back games last weekend against UCLA and Georgia at the Clearwater Invitational, Florida State softball (7-3) returned home Thursday to open up the Dugout Club Classic taking on Florida International (6-7) in its first pair of games.

The Seminoles poured on the runs as it swept the Panthers, 7-3 and 9-1.

"The response from Clearwater and we've had a lot of talks about pitching and defense came out today," FSU head coach Lonni Alameda said. "We attacked the zone pretty good, made some defensive plays and it's nice to see Ashtyn [Danley] get out there with some good outings for us."

"Swinging the bat has been there. The first pitcher was unusual, mixing the speeds there, so we had to make some adjustments on that side, but it's great to see the team get the two dubs."

Edenfield homers twice in game 2

Junior Michaela Edenfield recorded her third career multi-home run game in the Seminoles' second win of the day. She had a two-run homer in the second, that nearly reached the Spirit Way parking garage and a solo home run to center field in the fifth.

Edenfield finished the night 3-for-2 at home plate and recorded three RBIs. Hallie Wacaser also had a solo home run in the fourth inning of the second game.

"We all know what Michaela is capable of, power-wise," Alameda said. "She's been really working on the consistency side and having really good plans and approaches at the plate, and keeping that within her at-bats."

"You get to a point when you're a veteran where you expect more out of yourself and you're just trying to be in her corner about how she's trying to manage that in between her ears."

Ross nearly hits cycle in doubleheader

In game one, Amaya Ross had a two-run homer in the second. She'd finish the day 6-for-5, nearly hitting a cycle. Ross needed a double for a cycle on the day.

Alameda spoke on Ross's work ethic and her athleticism on the bases.

"If any sports fans talk about a player you'd like to see and grow, she's [Ross] the one you'd want to talk about," Alameda said. "She works and works quietly, she's a great teammate and she's super athletically talented. She maybe wasn't a softball player, but turned herself into one."

"Now when you see her hit change-ups and rise balls, that has been days and days of work. You can't stop smiling when someone like that gets chances."

Ross's speed throughout the day and into the night was huge in allowing her to get the most out of her hits.

Alameda said that Ross is up there as one of the fastest players that she's coached next to former utility player Cali Harrod, who played at FSU from 2016 to 2019.

"The thing about Amaya is she's got closing speed," Alameda said. "She's fast and then all of a sudden she's at third. It must come from Pops [former FSU cornerback Gerard Ross] I guess. There's fast and then there's smart fast."

Pitching shows improvement

In the circle, sophomore Makenna Reid and freshman Ashtyn Danley both picked up wins. Reid faced 21 batters in game one, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out three. Danley face 18 batters allowing one run on two hits and striking out two.

Mimi Gooden closed out game one, allowing one run off of one hit, walking one and striking out one against four batters faced. Allison Royalty closed out game two, allowing no runs on one hit and striking out one in four batters faced.

"Reid did great and I thought Mimi was really good coming in and so was Allison," Alameda said. "It's the ones that are starting that are good, but the ones that are coming off the bench in relief are closing mentality and that takes a while to get used to."

"I was really happy and pleased with that, and I'm excited to mess around with that tomorrow."

FSU opens up its next double header against Charleston Southern on Friday at 3 p.m. and the second game will be played at 5:30 p.m. The second day of the Dugout Club Classic opens at 10 a.m. as FIU takes on Nicholls.

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU softball opens up Dugout Club Classic with doubleheader sweep of FIU