Florida State softball is a loser on Opening Day for the first time since 2014.

The Seminoles dropped the opener of the JoAnne Graf Classic to Charlotte 6-5 in 10 innings in front of 961 fans at JoAnne Graf Field after a nearly four-hour affair.

Abigail Knight drove in London Dirks for the game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning for Charlotte (1-0). The Seminoles (0-1) blew 3-1 and 5-3 leads.

"Crazy opening day ball game. [Charlotte] is a good ball club," FSU coach Lonni Alameda said following the game.

"We had a lot of rookies get an opportunity out there, which will be good for us and growth for us. Thought we had some good fighting moments. It'll be about making adjustments tomorrow."

FSU's last opening game loss was a 4-3 loss to Nebraska on Feb. 7, 2014, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The last home season-opening loss came on Feb. 11, 2010, in a 2-1 loss to Southern Miss.

It was also the first opening game to go into extra frames since a 2012 walk-off win against Stephen F. Austin.

Emma Wilson, who started in the circle, walked Savanna Ngyuen on four pitches to tie the game at 5 in the top of the seventh inning. Wilson entered with runners on the corners and one out, relieving freshman Asthyn Danley.

Wilson pitched a career-high 6 ⅔ innings but picked up the loss.

Her previous career high was 5 ⅔ innings against Loyola-Chicago in 2022. She threw just six innings total last season.

"She put us in a good spot to win the game, she came in to close the game, which is pretty awesome," Alameda said. "She's been around the program but hasn't been used in those areas before. ... There were moments she got rattled but she was fine after that."

Sam Gress pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking one to pick up the win.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, it looked like the Seminoles had the win for a few moments when Kaley Mudge grounded out to the pitcher but the first baseman was ruled off the bag by the first base umpire. Pinch runner Annie Potter came around to score on the play.

But after a replay review, it was ruled the first baseman had her foot on the bag and Mudge was ruled out, extending the game, as Potter's run was not counted.

"I thought she was definitely off the base but replay said there was a split second her foot was on the bag," Alameda said.

"... I thought for sure her foot came off the bag but when you go to replay, you can't argue it anymore."

A Kalei Harding double gave FSU a go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning after the 49ers had evened the score off pitcher Makenna Reid in the top half of the inning.

Devyn Flaherty provided the key insurance run with an RBI triple in the next at-bat for the Seminoles.

After Reid gave up a home run to cut the lead to one, freshman Ashtyn Danley made her debut. Following a single, hit by pitch and walk, she worked out of the jam by getting 2-hole hitter Cori Hoffler to fly out to Jahni Kerr to end the threat.

Kerr drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning to give FSU the lead with an RBI double off the left-field wall.

Jaysoni Beachum singled to center field in her first career at-bat to drive in Amaya Ross, who walked to lead off the inning, for the Seminoles' first run of the season.

Harding, Beachum, Flaherty and Isa Torres each had two hits for FSU. The Seminoles struck out just four times as a team but only walked three times.

In the same inning, Brooke Bowling walked Mudge on five pitches. Bowling was called for four illegal pitches and was relieved immediately. Georgeanna Barefoot came in to pitch for her.

Wilson gave up a double and a triple to supply the 49ers with their first run of the season. She got out of the jam on a 1-3-2 double play with Kaeli Harding throwing out a runner at home to end the threat.

Reid, who relieved Wilson, pitched two innings and she allowed three earned runs on three hits. She walked two and struck out four. She was taken out following the solo home run from Arianna Rodi to lead off the sixth inning.

Ella Chancey drove in a pair of runs for the 49ers with a 3-for-4 performance with a triple and two runs scored.

With Beachum and Torres starting at third base and shortstop, respectively, they became the first two Seminoles' true freshmen to start a game since Cali Harrord and Carsyn Gordon in 2016 against Hofstra.

Up next:

The Seminoles and 49ers square off for a second straight night in the JoAnne Graf Classic at 6 p.m.

Also in the tournament, Texas Tech plays FAMU in a doubleheader at Rattler Field at 1 p.m. Friday.

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports), Instagram (tlhnolesports) and YouTube channel (NoleSportsTD).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU softball drops 10-inning game to Charlotte to open JoAnne Graf Classic