Auburn’s Morgan Podany was called safe on a close play at the plate in the bottom of the 8th inning as Tigers defeated Florida State 8-7 on Sunday to advance to the championship round of the Women’s College World Series.
As was the case in Thursday’s loss to Georgia, errors played a critical role for the Seminoles. FSU committed three on Sunday night, including a 2-base error in the eighth by left fielder Alex Kossoff, which allowed Madi Gipson to advance to third. Podany ran for Gipson and scored the winning run on a throw home from FSU third baseman Jessica Warren.
Prior to the winning run, all seven of Auburn’s runs came on homers. After an RBI double by ACC Player of the Year Alex Powers gave FSU a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st, Carlee Wallace blasted a 3-run home run in the bottom half of the inning to make it 3-1, Auburn.
Morgan Klaevemann plated FSU’s second run of the game in the top of the 2nd before Warren tied the game on a RBI single. Carsyn Gordon’s RBI single in the third allowed FSU to regain the lead, 4-3.
As was the case in the first inning, the Seminole lead would be short-lived. In the bottom of the 3rd, Jade Rhodes belted a 3-run home run to put the Tigers back on top by two, 6-4. Auburn extended its lead to three an inning later on a solo shot by Kasey Cooper.
FSU looked like it had let its best scoring chance slip away in the sixth inning when Powers flied out to center with the bases loaded. In the seventh however, the Seminoles drew even on a 3-run home run by shortstop Cali Harrod. Powers would again come up with the bases loaded later in the frame, but again flied out to center.
In the eighth, Sydney Broderick reached second on a walk and a sacrifice bunt, but Harrod and Gordon each struck out to end the threat before the Tigers won the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom half of the inning.
The heartbreaking loss for Florida State came after the Seminoles staved off elimination earlier Sunday with a thrilling win.
The day started for Florida State with a 1-0 victory over No. 2 national seed Michigan, despite only one hit.
Jessica Burroughs was masterful on the mound, allowing just three hits during a complete-game shutout. Burroughs allowed two walks while striking out six in the win.
FSU center fielder Morgan Klaevemann scored the game’s only run in the third inning on a ball that got by Michigan catcher Aidan Falk. Alex Kossoff had the only hit in the FSU victory that eliminated the Wolverines.
The loss means that Florida State will finish the season with a record of 55-10. Auburn will advance to a best-of-three championship round to face either Oklahoma or LSU.
Maury Neipris/FSU athletics
You must be logged in to post a comment Login