No. 4 FSU softball stays alive with a win over No. 13 Oklahoma State in the super regionals

(4) Florida State (55-9) defeated (13) Oklahoma State (43-15) 4-1 tonight in Tallahassee.

Game Recap

The same two pitchers from last night entered the circle for both teams as Meghan King returned for FSU and Oklahoma State again tapped Samantha Show. They were on their game early as both pitchers retired the side in order with two strikeouts.

Show kept it going in the second inning as she got the Noles 1-2-3. King matched her pitch for pitch as she set the Cowgirls down in order.

Cassidy Davis started it off for FSU in the third by getting hit by a pitch. Davis was FSU’s first base runner since the fourth inning last night. Show had retired 24 straight Seminoles. That is an amazing feat against a line up of this quality. Zoe Casas beat out an infield single moving Davis to second. After Rock Benavides popped up a bunt, Cali Harrod walked the bases loaded. Carsyn Gordon worked another walk that scored Davis for the game’s first run. Sydney Sherrill delivered a sacrifice fly to right scoring Casas. Elizabeth Mason delivered a clutch single up the middle scoring Gordon and Harrod to give the Seminoles a 4-0 lead. Dani Morgan grounded out to end the inning. Sydney Pennington started the bottom half of the third with a single. Taylor Lynch moved Pennington to second with a single. After a Chelsea Alexander strike out, Rylee Bayless reached on a throwing error by Sherrill. Pinch runner Mady Lohman was out at second but Pennington scored on the error. King bounced back to strike out Show to end the inning.

OSU coach Kenny Gajewski replaced Show in the circle with Logan Simunek. Anna Shelnutt greeted her with a single. However, Simunek settled down and got three straight outs to retire Florida State. Madi Sue Montgomery started the inning with a bunt single. King then beared down to get three straight outs to end the inning.

Simunek continued to look sharp retiring the Seminoles 1-2-3 in the fifth. King did the same for the Noles with the help of a leaping snag at first by Gordon for the second out of the inning.

Mason started the sixth with a double in the gap that reached the wall. However, the Seminoles couldn’t capitalize as Simunek ended the inning with three straight outs. King sandwiched a single from Show between three outs to retire the Cowgirls with no damage.

Casas started the seventh with a walk. Deja Bush pinch ran for her but was caught stealing. After a Leslie Farris pop out, Cali Harrod walked. Gordon ended the inning with a ground out. King ended the game by retiring OSU in order via two strikeouts and a pop up.

Post Game

Meghan King pitched seven strong innings scattering four hits giving up one run (unearned) with nine strikeouts and zero walks. King did this with an economical 84 pitches. It was King’s 30th win of the season and she now has 108 for her career which is one short of Lacey Waldrop’s school record of 109 wins.

Elizabeth Mason was 2-3 with two RBI including that clutch single in the third inning.

The Noles won this game with great pitching and clutch hitting. They are still having trouble with Oklahoma State pitching as evidenced by the fact that they only managed four hits for the game. However, if they can continue to perform in the clutch it won’t matter.

This team continues to impress in pressure situations. Remember that the nickname of last year’s team was the “Cardiac Kids”. Most of the players from that team returned for this year. It is clear that all of the magic from last year hasn’t left Tallahassee just yet.

Next Game

The same two teams will play a winner take all third game tomorrow at noon. The game will be played at JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex and will be broadcast on ESPN.