Florida State softball is rolling

The #1 Florida State Seminoles (38-1-1, 18-0 ACC) swept a three game series with the Syracuse Orange (19-15, 3-9 ACC) by the scores of 18-9, 13-4, and 6-5.

This series was the first time in school history that FSU had played a softball game at Syracuse. The Noles had to face typical central New York weather. The temperature was 44 degrees on Saturday. FSU was bundled up in the dugout like they were going on an expedition in Antarctica.

In the first game the temperature may have contributed to some sloppy play in the field as the two teams combined for 6 errors (2 for FSU). There were 27 runs scored in the game but only 19 of them were earned. The Noles won 18-9 in seven innings.

Meghan King (17-0) earned the win in the first game but she had perhaps her rockiest outing of the season so far as she was touched for seven earned runs in her six innings pitched. Freshman Cassidy Davis came in to pitch the seventh and held the Orange scoreless.

The weather was chilly but the bats were red hot for both teams particularly FSU. Jessica Warren, Alex Powers, and Ellie Cooper all had home runs while Carsyn Gordon went deep twice. Cooper led the way with five RBI while Powers and Gordon had four apiece.

On Sunday the two teams returned to Skytop Stadium for a double header. Fortunately for the Noles the temperature was in the 50s so the weather wasn’t as much of an issue. Florida State took this game 13-4 in five innings.

In this game senior Jessica Burroughs got the start and she did what she usually does - dominate. Burroughs (20-1, .60 ERA) kept the Orange off balance all day with her array of off speed pitches. Burroughs pitched four innings and scattered three hits while striking out six. Freshman Abby Evans pitched the fifth as FSU was up 13-0. Evans allowed four runs (only two earned) as the Orange was able to find their offense when Burroughs departed.

At the plate the Seminole train kept rolling. Jessica Warren, Sydney Broderick, and Cali Harrod all had round trippers. Warren had four RBI while Broderick and Harrod had three apiece.

In the third game the temperature moved into the 60s. This was the most closely contested game of the series and Syracuse briefly held a 5-4 lead.

Warren got the Noles off to another great start as she hit a two run blast in the first inning that brought home center fielder Morgan Klaevemann. The Noles stretched the lead to 3-0 on a Gordon sacrifice fly to bring in Harrod.

In the fourth Warren smacked one over the right field wall to give FSU a 4-0 lead. The Orange would get smart after that and give her the Barry Bonds treatment with intentional walks for the rest of the game.

Syracuse wouldn’t quit however. The Orange came back with a five spot in the bottom of the third to chase starter Meghan King. Manager Lonni Alameda inserted Burroughs to put out the fire. Burroughs came in and pitched the final four innings and she gave up one hit and struck out nine.

Burroughs’ excellence in the circle gave FSU an opportunity to come back and they did in the sixth inning. Warren was on third after reaching on an intentional walk and Harrod homered to over the centerfield wall to give FSU a 6-5 lead which Burroughs would make stand up.

FSU now moves to 38-1-1 and will head to Gainesville to face the #3 Florida Gators on Wednesday, April 12th at 7pm. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.