TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — After not playing a game for almost 11 months the twelfth ranked Florida State softball team (2-0) went 2-0 on day one of the JoAnne Graf Classic, outscoring their opponents 18-2.
No. 12 Florida State 9, Memphis 0
Florida State started the day off with a 9-0 run-rule victory over Memphis in five innings. Kathryn Sandercock got the start for the Noles and came out throwing well in the first inning earning two strikeouts. The Noles would get two on in the first before stranding them.
The Noles would hold the Tigers to a 1-2-3 inning in the second. Florida State would get runners on the corners but again would not convert.
Florida State finally broke through in the third inning with three runs. Sydney Sherrill started things off with a single and then got moved over to second by Dani Morgan. Cassidy Davis would drive in the Noles first run of the game with a single to right field sending home Sherrill. Morgan and Davis would then score on a passed ball by the Memphis catcher, giving FSU a 3-0 lead.
After holding the Tigers to nothing in the fourth inning, Florida State would erupt for six more runs, putting the game out of reach. It all got started with a Devyn Flaherty double to left field. Davis would single to the shortstop sending Flaherty home for her second RBI of the game. The Seminoles then loaded the bases for Anna Shelnutt who was walked giving the Noles a 5-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, Kiersten Landers hit a bomb to right field for a grand slam, making it 9-0 for Florida State.
Emma Wilson would take over the pitching duties in the fifth inning to close for the Noles pitching a flawless inning going three up, three down.
No. 12 Florida State 9, No. 24 Missouri 2
The Seminoles capped off the day just how they began it with nine runs and a win as they took down No. 24 Missouri, 9-2.
Missouri would take an early 1-0 lead in the game after hitting a homer to left field on the third at-bat of the game. The Seminoles would get nothing going until the third inning.
The bottom of the third inning started off with a Josie Muffley Single to right field and got followed up with a Flaherty single to right field sending Muffley to third. Sherrill would then ground out to second, scoring Muffley and tying the game. Flaherty would eventually get home after stealing third and advancing home on a throwing error by the Missouri catcher.
Missouri would tie it back up at two with their first at-bat of the fourth inning, a solo shot to center field. After nothing across for either team in the bottom of the fourth and the top of the fifth, Florida State took a commanding lead after the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Seminoles would score four runs, once again led by a leadoff hit by Muffley, followed by a hit by Flaherty. Muffley would score on a sac fly by Sherrill, making it 3-2. Flaherty would then score on a throwing error by the third baseman, allowing Cassidy Davis to be safe on first. With two outs, Elizabeth Mason stepped up and hit a two-run homerun to left field, giving the Seminoles a 6-2 lead.
FSU would hold Mizzou to nothing in the sixth before putting up three more runs on the board in the bottom half of the inning to finish off the 9-2 win over No. 24 Missouri.
Florida State is back in action tomorrow to finish play in the JoAnne Graf Classic. The Seminoles open the day at 10 am against Memphis before playing Missouri at 12:30 pm. Both games will be streamed live on ACCNX.
