PITTSBURGH (theACC.com) - Third-seeded Florida State opened play in the ACC Softball Championship with a 5-3 win against sixth-seeded Virginia Thursday night to advance to the semifinals. The Seminoles have advanced to the semifinals of the championship every year since 2005.

Following three scoreless innings, three-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year Sydney Sherrill sparked the Florida State offense in the fourth with a leadoff double to left center. After a groundout to advance to third, Sherrill scored on a sacrifice fly by Mack Leonard to give the ‘Noles a 1-0 lead. Devyn Flaherty followed with a double and scored on a single to right field by Jahni Kerr to make it 2-0.

In the fifth, Chloe Culp led off with a single and came around to score on an RBI groundout from Kaley Mudge. The Seminoles hit a pair of home runs in the sixth to pull ahead, 5-0. Kalei Harding hit her 13th homer of the year to left field and Flaherty followed two batters latter with a line drive shot to left.

Virginia rallied in the seventh, scoring three runs to cut the lead to 5-3 but the Cavaliers couldn’t pull any closer.