Florida State softball managed just two hits in the decisive game of the Tallahassee Super Regional late Saturday night, but that was enough. In a winner-take-all third game, the No. 6 national seed Seminoles topped No. 11 national seed LSU to advance to the Women’s College World Series, 3-1.
All three FSU (52-11) runs came in the third inning with the big blow being a 2-run home run by Jessie Warren — her third in as many Super Regional games. Carsyn Gordon would walk and come around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Anna Shelnutt later in the frame.
After a rough outing in the first game of the Super Regional on Friday, FSU pitcher Kylee Hanson was dominant in the finale. Hanson was efficient, allowing just a run on five hits while striking out four. After winning the first game, LSU’s Allie Walljasper took the loss on Saturday night, yielding three runs on two hits and four walks while striking out four.
The lone run of the contest for LSU (45-17) came in the fifth inning as Shemiah Sanchez scored on a heads-up base running play after Amber Serrett grounded back to Hanson. Sanchez had two of the five hits for the Tigers.
The teams were forced to play a second game on Saturday night instead of on Sunday afternoon — as originally scheduled — with Tropical Storm Alberto looming. The Seminoles needed 11 innings to take the first game on Saturday, 8-5. The Tigers held off FSU in the Super Regional opener on Friday night, 6-5.
FSU has now advanced to the Women’s College World Series for the third time in five years, where it will open things with No. 3 national seed UCLA on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. During last season’s Tallahassee Super Regional, the Seminoles took the first game against LSU before dropping the next two. The Tigers had been to the Women’s College World Series in each of the previous three seasons.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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