NOTRE DAME, Ind. — For the sixth consecutive season and the 16th time in program history, the Seminoles have won the ACC regular season championship as No. 8 Florida State (41-9, 18-2 ACC) defeated Notre Dame (30-20, 12-10 ACC) by a score of 11-2 in six innings on Saturday afternoon.
The Seminole offense came from all over the lineup on Saturday as nine different players recorded a hit, eight different Noles scored a run and seven separate players drove in an RBI.
“Today was an example of what we’ve been doing all season in having a complete team win,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “We had quality at bats up and down the lineup and executed in quite a few situations. Meghan, Savanna and Cass combined for a two-hitter and did a great job in the circle for us. Excited on winning the conference regular season as it is one of our goals every season. There are still some things we can improve on and I look forward to closing out the series tomorrow afternoon.”
Florida State exploded for six runs in the top of the second inning to open the scoring. Elizabeth Mason drew a one-out walk and moved to second on an infield single by Cali Harrod. Dani Morgan drove in the first run of the game with a single up the middle to make it 1-0 FSU. Morgan Klaevemann followed with a bunt down the first base line, scoring Harrod and the Seminole runners ended up on second and third on the play.
Carsyn Gordon drove in two more with a two-out single up the middle and immediately stole second base. Sydney Sherrill drew a walk and both runners perfectly executed a double steal to move into scoring position. Zoe Casas made it 6-0 Seminoles with a two-run single to center, marking her 26th RBI of the season.
Meghan King started strong in the circle for the Seminoles facing just six batters through the first two innings, including a bizarre inning-ending double play in the second inning. Melissa Rochford was hit by a pitch with one out in the inning and moved up to second on a wild pitch. King struck out Katie Marino, but the ball got away from Mason and she gathered it and threw to first for out number two. Rochford moved up to third and tried to score on the throw to first, but Gordon’s throw to Mason was in time and she tagged her to end the inning.
Notre Dame scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning as the Irish got runners to the corners with nobody out after a walk by Sara White and an infield single by MK Bonamy. A one-out groundout by Ali Wester to second base was deep enough to score White and cut the lead to 6-1.
The Irish added another run in the bottom of the fourth as Cait Brooks was hit by a pitch and advanced around the bases on a trio of wild pitches to make it a 6-2 game.
Jessie Warren hit a bases-clearing double with two outs in the fifth to increase the FSU lead to 9-2. Cassidy Davis led off the inning with a single and was pinch-run for by Korina Rosario. Rosario stole second and walks to Mason and Klaevemann loaded the bases for the senior third baseman. Warren hit it off the wall in center to drive in all three runs, increasing her career RBI total to 253.
The Seminoles brought in two more in the top of the sixth as Sherrill led off with an infield single. Casas reached on an ND error and both moved up a base on a wild pitch. Davis reached on fielder’s choice to the pitcher, scoring Sherrill from third to make it 10-2 Seminoles. Anna Shelnutt closed out the scoring with an RBI single to right center.
Davis tossed a scoreless sixth inning to secure the run-rule victory. Savanna Copelandallowed a hit and a walk in 1.0 innings, while King improved to 15-6 on the season, giving up two runs on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings.
Florida State and Notre Dame will conclude the series on Sunday, April 29 with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra and links for the stream, live stats and FSU Softball Radio will be available on the softball schedule page of Seminoles.com.
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