Florida State softball won its first 36 games at JoAnn Graf Field this season, but needing to win just one of two to head back to the Women’s College World Series, the Seminoles could not get the job done.
In the most offensively explosive of the three games, No. 13 national seed LSU topped fourth-seeded Florida State, 6-4, in the decisive game of the Tallahassee Super Regional. The Seminoles (55-8-1) finish one win shy of breaking a school-record for wins.
LSU got the scoring started with a 2-run double from Sahvanna Jaquish in the third. After FSU answered with an RBI double from Alex Powers in the bottom half of the inning, a 3-run fourth for LSU (47-20) proved to be the blow that FSU never could recover from.
After an RBI infield single from Emily Griggs made it 3-1, Jaquish again landed the punishing blow with a 2-run single to center field.
FSU fought valiantly, adding two runs in the bottom of the fourth on RBI singles by Korina Rosario and Ellie Cooper. The Seminoles added another in the sixth, but didn’t maximize the opportunity. FSU loaded the bases with no one out for All-American Jessie Warren, but managed just one run in the frame with a sacrifice fly by Cooper to score Rosario.
In the top of the seventh, LSU added some insurance on an RBI triple from Bailey Landry, but FSU made things interesting in the final frame. After Sydney Broderick singled, Carsyn Gordon lined up the middle for a hit of her own, but was thrown out at second trying to take the base on a throw toward the plate that was cut off. Cali Harrod and Dani Morgan each flied out to end the game and the season for FSU.
Jessica Burroughs was the losing pitcher for FSU, yielding four runs in 3 2/3 innings. After taking the loss on Friday, LSU reliever Carley Hoover picked up the win for her relief effort. LSU will move on to face UCLA in the Women’s College World Series.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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