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PDF Box Scores – FSU d. Dartmouth 8-4 | FSU d. UCF 2-1
ORLANDO, Fla. — Trailing by multiple runs for the first time in 2019, No. 1 Florida State (21-0) won a pair of close games on Sunday to stay undefeated on the season. The Seminoles came from behind to win 8-4 over Dartmouth (2-8) and closed out the day with a 2-1 win at UCF (12-6).
Seven of the eight runs against Dartmouth came with two outs in the win over the Big Green, while Meghan King set a career high with 14 strikeouts in the complete game victory against the Knights.
King improved to 10-0 on the season and since April 28, 2018, she has posted a record of 22-0 over 27 appearances with a 0.90 ERA and 150 strikeouts over 140.0 IP with wins over eight ranked teams and six Top 10 teams.
The 21-game winning streak to begin the 2019 season is tied for the second-longest winning streak to begin a season, matching the 1993 team. Along with the six wins to end the 2018 season, Florida State is currently on a 27-game winning streak, which is tied for second-longest overall winning streak in program history (March 22-May 11, 2003).
“We are excited about every opportunity to come out and compete,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “It is a long season and there is a different opportunity every day to be challenged. And that is what we are doing right now. We are trying to figure out different ways to win. Good teams are able to win in different ways and that is part of the excitement right now, in that we don’t know who it is going to be. We are also figuring each other out and growing as a squad right now, and that is really exciting.”
Game One: No. 1 Florida State 8, Dartmouth 4
Dartmouth scored four unearned runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 4-0 lead. A leadoff walk and an FSU error allowed the Big Green to open the scoring on an RBI single by Billie McFayden. Taylor Ward followed with a three-run home run to left field.
Cassidy Davis put the Seminoles on the board with a solo home run in the top of the second inning to cut the Dartmouth lead to 4-1.
Makinzy Herzog replaced FSU starter Kara Bilodeau to start the second inning and Dartmouth managed to get runners to second and third with one out on a walk, an infield single and a passed ball, but Herzog got the Noles out of the inning with a pop out and a groundout.
Florida State scored three runs in the top of the fourth, all with two outs, to tie the game at 4-4. Elizabeth Mason drove a one-out single to left and scored on an RBI double to center by Davis. Following a single by Carsyn Gordon, Herzog lined the first pitch of her at bat down the right field line for a game-tying double.
Through the first 19 games of the season, Florida State had only trailed in two games for a total of four offensive at bats. On Sunday, it took the Seminoles 13 plate appearances to tie the game against Dartmouth.
Florida State took the lead in the sixth inning as Davis drew a two-out walk and was pinch-run for by Maegan Tomlinson. Gordon launched a deep home run to left center, her fourth HR of the season, to put the Seminoles in front. The home run was also Gordon’s 27th of her career, which is seventh-most in FSU history.
The Noles added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI double by Zoe Casas and, after Deja Bush came in to pinch run for Casas, an RBI single by Mason.
Herzog tossed 5.0 innings of scoreless relief to improve to 2-0 on the season, scattering four hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Davis closed out the game in the circle for the Noles, retiring all three batters she faced in the seventh inning.
Game Two: No. 1 Florida State 2, UCF 1
The Seminoles threatened in the top of the second inning as FSU loaded the bases with two outs on a single by Casas and walks to Davis and Leslie Farris, but a groundout left them all stranded.
FSU put the first two runners on base in the third inning on a single by Gordon and a walk by Sherrill, but three consecutive strikeouts kept the game tied at 0-0.
After striking out six of the first eight batters she faced, FSU starting pitcher Meghan King allowed three consecutive singles in the bottom of the third inning as UCF loaded the bases with one out. The redshirt senior got the Seminoles out of the jam with another strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.
Florida State put a pair of runners on in the top of the fifth inning on one-out singles by Gordon and Sherrill, but a strikeout and a groundout left them both on base.
UCF led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a triple to center by Erin Emanuel and got runners on second and third with one out after a walk and a stolen base. After a pop out in foul territory and an intentional walk to load the bases, King ended the inning with her eighth strikeout of the game.
The Seminoles had a pair of runners reach in the sixth inning on one-out singles by Davis and Herzog, but a ground out and a fly out ended the inning.
Florida State broke through in the top of the seventh as Sherrill hit a one-out single and Mason followed with a walk. Both runners moved up to second and third on a fly out to right, and a fielding error by the Knights’ first baseman allowed the Noles to take a 2-0 lead.
UCF battled in the bottom of the seventh, hitting a pair of one-out singles and the Knights were down to their final strike when Jazmine Esparza cut the lead to 2-1 with an RBI single up the middle. With the winning run on base, King ended the game with a strikeout.
Along with the career-high 14 strikeouts, King allowed one run on nine hits with two walks in the complete-game victory.
The Seminoles will wrap up the UCF Invitational on Monday, March 4 with a game against UCF at 6:00 p.m. Links for the broadcast, live stats and tickets will be available on the softball schedule page of Seminoles.com.
Fans can listen to the FSU softball coaching staff, head coach Lonni Alameda and assistant coaches Travis Wilson and Craig Snider, on their weekly podcast: Coaches and Coffee – The FSU Softball Podcast. Each week, the coaches talk about the current state of the Seminole softball team, chat about NCAA softball from around the country, and have a lot of fun along the way. The podcast can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, or directly at our website – fsusoftballpodcast.wordpress.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.
