FSU softball fans got some encouraging news this week regarding freshman second baseman Marin Heller. Head coach Lonni Alameda provided a positive update on Heller's recovery after she underwent surgery following a collision with a Georgia Tech base runner on April 24. The injury sidelined Heller for the final six games of the regular season, but her return to the field may be on the horizon.

"She will be going to ACC's with us, she'll be travelling from now on out with us," Alameda told the media on Wednesday. "I do think that there is hope for her to be on the field. So we're just kind of day-by-day with her. But she's doing everything possible to make sure she gives herself a chance to be out there."

The injury occurred on the last play of the game as Heller moved to field a grounder, putting her directly in the basepath between first and second. The runner on first collided with her, leaving Heller down on the field for several minutes before she was able to walk off. It was a tough break for a player who had been a steady presence in the lineup all season.

Before the injury, Heller started all 48 games for the Seminoles and earned All-ACC Second Team and All-Freshman honors. Her stats tell the story of a well-rounded player: a .353 batting average, .451 on-base percentage, 15 doubles, four triples, two home runs, and 25 RBIs. She also showed discipline at the plate with 23 walks against just 16 strikeouts, and speed on the bases with 13 stolen steals in 15 attempts. Defensively, she was just as reliable, committing only four errors in 173 chances for a .977 fielding percentage.

As the Seminoles prepare to open the ACC Softball Tournament on Thursday against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets—a team they swept in the regular season—Heller's potential return could provide a significant boost. For now, the team is taking it day by day, but there's renewed hope that this talented freshman will be back on the diamond when it matters most.