CLEARWATER, Fla. — Launching three home runs as part of an eight extra-base hit game, No. 1 Florida State (9-0) remained perfect on the season after a 17-6 victory over RV Minnesota (3-3) on Saturday night at the 2019 St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational.
Florida State brought in five runs in the first inning, has scored 23 of its 67 runs this season in the opening frame and have scored at least one run in the first in six of its nine games this season.
With home runs from Dani Morgan, Zoe Casas and Sydney Sherrill, Florida State now has 15 home runs through its first nine games. Those 15 HRs are spread among nine different players in the lineup.
With Sunday’s games remaining, Florida State is the only team without a loss at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational, as all 15 other teams have at least one loss at the Eddie C. Moore Complex on the weekend.
“Obviously, a lot of positives from what we did offensively and defensively, but there were a lot of learning moments and situations that we were able to put the young players in challenging situations,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “Pleased with where the team is at right now and where we are on our climb up the mountain. Time to get some rest before coming back for two more challenging games tomorrow.”
Florida State jumped out to an early lead with a five-run first inning, started by an RBI single by Elizabeth Mason after consecutive walks to Carsyn Gordon and Sherrill. Anna Shelnuttpopped the ball into shallow left, but the Minnesota SS dropped the ball, allowing Sherrill to score and make it 2-0 Noles.
Consecutive singles by Morgan and Casas extended the lead to 3-0 FSU, and Cassidy Davis’ fly ball to right center hit off the top of the wall for a two-RBI triple, the first triple of her career.
Davis started the game in the circle for the Noles and opened the Gopher first inning with a strikeout, before Minnesota put together a single, a walk and an RBI single to cut the FSU lead to 5-1. Davis got out of the inning as a line out and a strikeout ended the threat.
Sherrill crushed her third home run of the season to left center in the top of the second inning, pushing the Seminole advantage back out to 6-1.
Kathryn Sandercock entered to pitch for the Minnesota second inning, and after a leadoff walk, looked like she was going to get out of the inning unscathed, but a two-out walk and a two-run triple made it a three-run game.
Back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the third inning by Morgan and Casas made it an 8-3 FSU lead. It marked the third time this season that the Seminoles have hit back-to-back home runs.
Minnesota threatened in the fourth inning as the Gophers loaded the bases with one out on a walk and a pair of infield singles. Sandercock battled back and struck out the next two hitters to get out of the jam.
The Seminoles added four more runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Sherrill, her second double of the game. Harrod also added an RBI single in the inning.
Kara Bilodeau replaced Sandercock to start the Minnesota fifth and the Gophers cut the FSU lead to 12-5 after a one-out, two-run home run by Natalie DenHartog. Bilodeau ended the inning after retiring the next two hitters on a fly out and a pop out.
Morgan Noah started the Seminole seventh with a double to left and Savannah Parkerfollowed with a pinch-hit walk. Gordon struck out on a ball in the dirt, but a throwing error on the catcher, followed by a throwing error by the right fielder allowed two runs to score, making it a 14-5 game. Mason drew a walk and Leslie Farris hit her second triple of the season to drive in two more runs. Farris came in to score on an infield RBI single by Morgan.
Davis re-entered to pitch the seventh inning and Minnesota got a run back after a double, a wild pitch and a groundout. Davis ended the game with a fly out and a strikeout.
Sandercock (4-0) picked up the win with 3.0 innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Davis gave up two runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts over 2.0 innings. Bilodeau tossed 2.0 innings of relief and allowed three hits and two runs.
The Seminoles will close out the 2019 St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational on Sunday with a pair of games at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. Florida State will take on Florida Atlantic at 4:00 p.m., before wrapping up against No. 6 Tennessee at 7:00 p.m. The game against the Owls will be shown on ESPN3, while the Noles/Lady Vols matchup will air nationally on ESPN2. Live stats, broadcast links and field locations will all be available on the softball schedule page on Seminoles.com.
Throughout 2018-19, the Seminoles will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of women’s intercollegiate athletics at Florida State and there are many events and reunions planned for all women’s sports. Head to www.seminoles.com/50th/ for more information that will be updated throughout the year.
Follow Florida State softball on Twitter (@FSU_Softball) and Instagram (fsusoftball), and like our Facebook page (Facebook.com/FSUsoftball) to keep up to date with everything about Seminole softball.
