The No. 18 Florida State softball team (18-8, 1-2) fell to No. 4 Duke (22-2, 5-1), 9-5, in eight innings on Sunday afternoon at the Seminole Softball Complex to drops its opening ACC series. The Seminole bats came alive against the top pitching staff in the country as they jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a double from Kalei Harding.Duke responded with a run in the top of the second inning and two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. Amaya Ross reached on an error in the bottom of the third and moved to scoring position via a stolen base. Michaela Edenfield then hit one over the center fielder's head to score Ross to bring the Noles within one. Jaysoni Beachum delivered a double in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Jahni Kerr hit a hard ball to the shortstop that was dropped to allow Beachum to score to tie the game. Duke was able to add two more runs off a wild pitch and a groundout in the top of the fifth to regain the lead. The Blue Devils would take a two-run lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Noles used a seventh inning rally for the third time this season to tie the game to send it into extras.

Ross led off the inning by being hit by a pitch then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Edenfield recorded her third hit of the day to score Ross. Edenfield advanced to third on an error by the right fielder to give the Noles a runner on third with just one out. Annie Potter came in to run for Edenfield, and Hallie Wacaser hit a ground ball to the second baseman that was deep enough to score Potter to tie the game. Duke's four runs in the top of the eighth inning were too much for the Seminoles to overcome.The Seminoles will host No. 3 Texas on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on the ACC Network before continuing ACC play next weekend at Pitt.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: No. 4 Duke takes ACC series against No. 18 FSU, beats Seminoles in extras