NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Seminole offense tallied nine hits and drew three walks, but were unable to get the key hits with runners on base as No. 8 Florida State (41-10, 18-3 ACC) stranded 11 runners in a 3-1 loss at Notre Dame (31-20, 13-10 ACC) on Sunday afternoon at Melissa Cook Stadium.
“We struggled in situations today and didn’t take advantage of our opportunities offensively,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “Tip your hat to Notre Dame as they made several impressive defensive plays and executed when they needed to. Quite a few good things to build on from today as we move forward. Tough loss, but we will learn and grow heading into next week at NC State.”
The Seminoles opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. Cali Harrod lifted a single into shallow left field with one out and quickly stole second base. Dani Morganbrought her in to score a batter later with an RBI double to right center.
Notre Dame tallied three hits and scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead in the second inning. Cait Brooks led off with a single to right and scored on an RBI double by Katie Marino. Sara White put the Irish in front with an RBI single up the middle with one out. Kylee Hanson got the Seminoles out of the inning with a strikeout and a groundout.
Florida State threatened in the fourth inning, as singles by Harrod and Morgan, along with stolen bases from both of them, had Seminole runners on second and third with one out. They would be left stranded on base after a strikeout and a fly out.
Jessie Warren led off the FSU fifth inning with a double, moved to third on a ground out and Zoe Casas walked to put runners on the corners with two outs. Cassidy Davis hit a solid grounder up the middle and Notre Dame second baseman Katie Marino didn’t field the ball cleanly, but it bounced off her glove and arm and ricochets directly to shortstop Morgan Reed who stepped on second to end the inning.
The Seminoles loaded the bases in the sixth inning on a bunt single by Harrod, a hit-by-pitch to Anna Shelnutt and a two-out walk by Warren. A strikeout left all three on base to end the inning.
Meghan King entered to pitch in the fourth inning and kept the Irish off the scoreboard until the bottom of the sixth, as Melissa Rochford made it 3-1 Notre Dame with an RBI double to right center. It was the only hit and run allowed by King in her 3.0 innings of relief as she recorded five strikeouts.
Hanson (24-4) took the loss, marking her first loss since March 2 against Hofstra. She allowed three hits and two runs in 3.0 innings with zero walks and one strikeout.
The Seminoles will close out the regular season on the road with a three-game series at NC State on May 4-6.
