Copyright © 2023, Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. / Privacy Policy
PDF Box Scores – Game 1 | Game 2
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Earning a season-opening win for the fifth year in a row, No. 1 Florida State (2-0) posted a victory in both games of the JoAnne Graf Classic on Friday, topping UNCW (1-1) by a score of 7-2 and shutting out Iowa State (1-1) with a 1-0 win to end the day.
“Quality way to start the season, not just with two wins, but with the way the team was able to work through the process in both games,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “Opening day always has some jitters, but that is a good thing because that means you are excited about the game. It was great to begin to see what Team 36 is all about and put the team in a bunch of different situations. Another long day for us tomorrow against some quality opponents.”
Game One: No. 1 Florida State 7, UNC Wilmington 2
FSU jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in the opening game against UNCW. Cali Harrod started off with a single up the middle and stole both second and third base, while Sydney Sherrill followed with a walk and also stole second to move into scoring position. After a walk to Elizabeth Mason loaded the bases, Dani Morgan put the Seminoles on the board with an RBI single to right.
Anna Shelnutt added a two-run single later in the inning, and eventually scored on a UNCW error off the bat of Makinzy Herzog.
Cassidy Davis started the game in the circle for the Noles and needed just three pitches to send the Seahawks down in order in the top of the first inning. She added a scoreless second before allowing UNCW to score in the third off a bases-loaded double play, following a single and a pair of walks, cutting the Seminole lead to 4-1.
Davis helped her own cause in the bottom of the third inning, driving in a pair of runners on a single to right, scoring Zoe Casas and Deja Bush. Both runners recorded a stolen base in the inning and Bush pinch-ran for Shelnutt who reached on a walk.
Harrod closed out the Seminole scoring with an infield single, extending the Florida State lead to 7-1.
Davis was replaced in the circle to start the fourth inning as Kathryn Sandercock made her Florida State debut. The freshman retired five of the first six batters she faced before allowing a solo home run to Dominique Travers in the top of the fifth inning to make it a 7-2 game. Sandercock scattered just one hit over the last 2.1 innings as she earned her first collegiate victory. Davis allowed just three hits and one run with two walks and a strikeout in her 3.0-inning start.
Game Two: No. 1 Florida State 1, Iowa State 0
Offense was hard to come by in the second game of the day, as the game was tied at 0-0 as Iowa State loaded the bases in the top of third inning after a single, a double and a fielder’s choice. Seminole starter Meghan King fielded a one-out grounder to the circle and her throw home was a bit offline, but Shelnutt was able to stretch to catch the ball and keep her foot on home plate for the force out. A groundout to Leslie Farris at second base ended the inning and got the Seminoles out of the jam.
Florida State had baserunners in four of the first five innings, but did not capitalize until the bottom of the sixth as Sherrill led off the inning with a solo home run to left center.
King retired 14 of the last 15 batters she faced, including striking out the side in the top of the seventh, to close out the complete-victory. The redshirt senior (1-0) tossed 7.0 innings and allowed just three hits, one walk and eight strikeouts.
The Seminoles continue the JoAnne Graf Classic on Saturday with a game against UNCG at 12:30 p.m., and end the day against Iowa State at 3:00 p.m.
Live stats from all games this weekend, and throughout the entire season, will be available from the softball schedule page on Seminoles.com. Season tickets are still available, and single-game tickets for all February games are on sale now. Tickets for games in March and April will go on sale the first day of their respective month. For ticket information, go to www.seminoles.com/tickets.
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.
