Lonnie Alameda has just signed her third transfer portal player in Kaiyah Ratu. Ratu hit .381 with 19 homers last season at the Juco level. Alameda is doing her best to replace the defensive presence and big bats she lost with the departure of Isa Torres and Jaysoni Beachum.
Florida State softball has signed catcher/infielder Kaiyah Ratu for its upcoming season.
Ratu is the third transfer that head coach Lonni Alameda has brought in for 2026. Florida State announced earlier that Ella Dodge and Nicole Edmiaston were also joining the program via the transfer portal.
Ratu is an international player from New Zealand who recently played college softball for Temple College in Temple TX. Last season she hit .381 with 19 home runs, 13 doubles, and 61 RBI. Her discipline at the plate is tremendous as she only struck out 10 times last year, compared to 21 walks.
Ratu posted a .996 fielding percentage last year and showed elite defensive skills while playing catcher and infielder for Temple College.
Coach Alameda and her team were one of the hottest teams in college softball this past season going 49-12 overall, and 18-3 in ACC play. The team was headlined by shortstop Isa Torres who was named National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, and ACC Defensive Player of the Year last season. Torres has since transferred to the Texas Longhorns.
Alameda also lost the No. 2-rated third baseman in college softball when All-American Jaysoni Beachum left to join Texas Tech. With two key infielders from last year's team gone, Alameda needs to keep finding impactful players to compete in a sport where NIL is having a significant impact.
Florida State was ranked the No.9 team in the nation going into last year's tournament before suffering an upset loss to UCF in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Florida State was the host of the tournament making the upset even more bitter.
Dodge came to Florida State after two years at Tennessee. She has played in two Women's College World Series and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Edmiaston was on the Stetson team that defeated Florida State in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. She was the ASUN Player of the Year with a school record 23 home runs and a batting average of .453.
Six elite high school players will also be added to the list of first-year players for Alameda. McLaine Hudson (Infielder), Ava Lorenzatti (Pitcher), Missy Odom (Pitcher/Outfielder), Kaylee Goodpaster (Outfield), Callee Leffler (Outfield), and Addyson Ware (Utility).
In 2026/2027 Alameda will rely on returning star players Ashtyn Danley, Jazzy Francik, and Kennedy Harp. Danley was an ace pitcher and clutch at the plate, Francik was the ACC Pitcher of the Year throwing multiple no-hitters last season, and Harp was great in the field and productive at the plate.
