Florida State softball advances to the World Series

Florida State lost the first game of the super regional so the Seminoles needed to win two in a row to make it to the World Series. The original schedule called for game two to be played on Saturday and game three to be played on Sunday. However, with the expected arrival of tropical storm Alberto on Sunday the NCAA decided that both games would be played on Saturday. Florida State (52-11) swept both games winning the first 8-5 in 11 innings and taking the second 3-1 to advance to the World Series.

Game One

LSU sent Carley Hoover (16-7) to the circle while FSU countered with Meghan King (22-6). This game featured a lightning delay that lasted about 76 minutes.

LSU scored first in the second inning when Shelbi Sunseri drove in Amanda Doyle with an RBI single. The Noles answered when Jessie Warren crushed a ball over the left field wall in the top of the third to give the Seminoles a 2-1 lead. The Noles weren't done however. Carsyn Gordon walked and eventually made it to third. She scored on a bunt from Anna Shelnutt. Shelnutt advanced to second on a hit from Zoe Casas and made to third on a wild pitch. She scored on a sac fly from Cali Harrod to give FSU a 4-1 lead.

It stayed that way until the fifth. FSU scored again when Harrod singled to drive in Sydney Sherrill. The run was unearned because the Tigers dropped a Harrod foul ball earlier in the at bat. In the bottom of the inning LSU came roaring back. They loaded the bases on a single and a pair of walks. Shemiah Sanchez came up and slugged a grand slam over the left field wall to tie the game at 5-5.

In the 11th FSU finally broke through again when Gordon came up with one out and smoked a ball over the left field wall. The solo shot gave the Noles a 6-5 lead. However, the Seminoles weren't done. They got insurance when "Playoff Anna" Shelnutt hit a bomb over the left field wall to drive in Sherrill and give Florida State an 8-5 lead. In the bottom of the inning King gave up a single to Amber Serrett but she got three straight outs after that to end the game.

Jessie Warren only had one hit in the game but it was the huge two run homer. Anna Shelnutt was 2-5 with a homer, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Carsyn Gordon was 2-4 with a homer and an RBI. Cali Harrod was 1-3 with 2 RBI.

Meghan King showed a ton of heart in earning this win. She battled back extremely well after giving up the grand slam. She didn't give up another hit until the 11th inning. For the game King delivered a whopping 186 pitches (Hoover had 210 for LSU).

Game Two

In game two both teams turned to yesterday's starters - Kylee Hanson (28-5) for FSU and Allie Walljasper (19-7) for LSU.

Florida State broke the ice in the third inning. Again it was Jessie Warren who supplied the power. The senior crushed a no-doubter over the left centerfield wall to drive in Deja Bush who was pinch running for Cassidy Davis. FSU wasn't satisfied with only a 2-0 lead. After a Gordon walk Sherrill doubled off the right field wall to advance her to third. Gordon scored on a Shelnutt sac fly to give FSU a 3-0 lead.

In the fifth Sanchez started things for LSU with a single. Sunseri doubled to move her to third. Amber Serrett drove her in with a ball fielded by Hanson. Sanchez scampered home with heads up base running after Hanson threw to first to retire Serrett.

After that inning Hanson kept LSU scoreless to advance FSU to the World Series.

Warren was 1-3 with the two run homer. Sherrill had the only other hit for FSU while Shelnutt had the only other RBI with her sac fly. The Noles scored their three runs on only two hits.

Hanson bounced back in impressive fashion from her disappointing outing yesterday. The senior went seven full innings scattering five hits and only ceding one run.

Post Game

Florida State advances to the World Series for the 10th time in program history and the third time in five years.

The Seminoles will face third seeded UCLA in the first round of the World Series. The game is scheduled for Thursday at 9:30pm (ESPN2) from Oklahoma City.

I will have much more on this matchup before the game.