TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Florida State Athletics) — The No. 12 Florida State softball team (3-1) wrapped up the JoAnne Graf Classic going 1-1 on the Saturday with a 3-2 win over Memphis and a 9-5 loss to No. 24 Missouri.
No. 12 Florida State 3, Memphis 2
The Seminoles started the day with an early 10:00 am game against Memphis in which they would go on to win 3-2. It would not come easy for the Noles as they fell down 2-0 after three innings.
Danielle Watson would get the start in the circle for the Noles, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing two runs on four hits. Watson started strong getting the first three Memphis batters out in order.
Memphis started the second inning out with a single to left then a walk. With two runners on, they would hit a double to left field scoring one run. The Tigers then loaded the bases but would get nothing out of it as Josie Muffley would make a nice play on a throw to home and Watson would strikeout the final batter of the inning.
The Tigers would make it 2-0 in the third inning after they got a batter to second on the error by the FSU shortstop and then stealing second. Memphis would then hit a double to right-center scoring their second run of the game.
Caylan Arnold would then come in to pitch for Florida State in the fourth inning with one out and runners on first and second. She would go on to put out eight straight Memphis Tigers, holding them at two runs.
Florida State would finally get on the board in the fourth inning. Anna Shelnutt led off with a walk and was then replaced by D’Aun Riggs as a pinch-runner. Riggs would advance to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a passed ball. With one out Muffley would walk and then steal second. With two outs and runners on second and third Devyn Flaherty would single to first sending Riggs home moving the Noles within a run 1-2.
The Seminoles would then take the lead in the fifth inning after a pair of back-to-back solo shots from Cassidy Davis and Elizabeth Mason.
After rolling through eight straight Tiger batters, Arnold would let her first batter of the game on with a walk. That would be it as she would strike out the next two batters and then make the final batter pop out to the catcher to end the game.
No. 12 Florida State 5, No. 24 Missouri 9
The Seminoles capped off the day against No. 24 Missouri for the second straight day. This time the Noles would not be as fortunate as they would fall to the Tigers 9-5.
Missouri would take a 3-0 lead early in the game with one run coming in the first and two in the second inning. The Tigers would start off with a single up the middle. A double to left-center would send the Missouri runner home.
In the second inning, Missouri would get a runner on with two outs. That runner would advance to second on another base hit by the Tigers. With runners on first and second and two outs. Wilmes would double to right-center scoring both Missouri runners, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead heading into the third inning.
Missouri would not stop there as they would score three more in the top of the third on three hits.
Florida State would get within one in the bottom of the third after scoring five runs. Kalei Harding started things off for FSU with a leadoff double. That was then followed up by a bomb from Jahni Kerr into the scoreboard. It was her first hit as a Seminole and one to remember. She became the first Seminole since Feb. 22, 2019, when Savannah Parker hit a homerun on her first hit.
Sydney Sherrill would then walk and make it to home on a Dani Morgan double. Elizabeth Mason would give the Noles five runs on her third homerun of the season.
Missouri would come right back and score two more runs in the fifth making it 9-5. Florida State would only get one more hit the rest of the game as they could not come back. FSU would fall to Missouri 9-5 for their first loss of the season.
Florida State is back in action on Tuesday against Southern Miss at 4:00 PM. The game will be broadcasted live on the ACC Network.
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