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FSU Softball takes two on Saturday at THE Spring Games

Posted at 6:05 PM, Mar 07, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-07 18:05:26-05

LONGWOOD, Fl. — Earning a pair of come-from-behind victories on Saturday afternoon, the Seminoles extended their winning streak to five games as No. 11 Florida State (15-6) defeated Creighton (10-9) by the score of 2-1, and posted a 10-5 victory over Charleston Southern (9-9) at THE Spring Games in Longwood, Fla.

Dani Morgan hit a home run in both games, including a two-run HR in the bottom of the sixth inning against Creighton to put the Noles in front. She finished the day 3-for-6 with a walk, three RBI and three runs scored.

“Nice to see the team stay in it and work through some adversity this afternoon,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “Caylan and Kat pitched really well in each game, allowing the offense to get back in the games. We had a lot of players in a lot of different positions and situations today, so it was good to see everyone gain experience and develop. Two more games tomorrow morning to close out the weekend.”

Game 1: No. 11 Florida State 2, Creighton 1

The Seminoles got a pair of runners on with two outs in the second inning with a walk by Kaia LoPreste and a single from Morgan Noah, but a strikeout left them both stranded.

FSU starting pitcher Caylan Arnold retired each of the first six batters she faced, until a leadoff single by Kiara Mills to start the top of the third inning. Mills moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a two-out RBI double by Ashley Cantu. The run snapped a streak of 19.0 innings without allowing an earned run for Arnold, dating back to February 28 against Baylor.

The Bluejays got another runner to second base in the fifth inning on a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base, but Noah made a great catch on a ball destined for extra bases to end the inning.

Creighton threatened in the top of the sixth, getting a runner third base with one out after a single, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Arnold got out of the jam with a strikeout and a pop out.

The Seminoles took the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Cassidy Davis hit an infield single with two outs in the inning and Morgan followed with a two-run home run to left center to make it 2-1 Florida State.

The Bluejays got the leadoff runner on base in the top of the seventh inning via a hit-by-pitch, but Arnold retired the next three batters in order to close out the victory for Florida State.

Arnold improved to 5-2 on the season in the complete-game victory, scattering three hits and one run over 7.0 innings, with zero walks and nine strikeouts.

Game 2: No. 11 Florida State 10, Charleston Southern 5

Charleston Southern opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as FSU starting pitcher Bianca Cruz allowed a bunt single and an RBI double to the first two batters she faced. Kathryn Sandercock entered to pitch for the Noles and the Buccaneers hit another bunt single, followed by a groundout to have runners at second and third with one out. CSU tried to put another bunt down, but the batter missed the ball and Kaia LoPreste picked off the runner at third for out number two. Sandercock ended the inning with a strikeout.

The Noles bounced back and took the lead in the top of the second as Dani Morgan drew a walk, followed by consecutive singles by Devyn Flaherty, Chloe Culp and an RBI single by Morgan Noah to tie the game at 1-1. A fielder’s choice by LoPreste and a CSU error allowed another run to score and Sydney Sherrill closed out the scoring with an RBI single to left field to make it 3-1 Florida State.

The Seminoles loaded the bases with one out in the third inning on singles by Cassidy Davis and Morgan, along with Devyn Flaherty reaching on a catcher’s interference. All would be left stranded on a pair of groundouts by FSU.

Morgan hit her second home run of the day in the fifth inning against CSU, lifting a solo home run to left field. The inning continued with a single to right field by Flaherty and she scored on an RBI double by Culp. Noah drew a walk, advanced to third on an infield single by Elizabeth Mason, before scoring on a CSU throwing error to extend the FSU lead to 6-1.

Sandercock retired 11 of the 12 batters she faced until a leadoff single from Madison Koger in the bottom of the fifth inning. She would be sent back to the dugout as a ground ball to Leslie Farris was flipped to Josie Muffley at second and fired to Flaherty at first for FSU’s 14th double play of the season.

The Seminoles scored an unearned run in sixth inning after a double by Davis and a Charleston Southern error allowing Davis to score and make it 7-1 FSU.

The Buccaneers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth after an FSU error and a pair of singles, and scored their second run of the game after a walk, cutting the lead to 7-2 and ending Sandercock’s day in the circle. Davis entered to pitch for the Noles and got the first batter on a ground out, and allowed a two-out double to right field to make it 7-5 FSU.

Kiersten Landers and Farris opened the Seminole seventh inning with singles and scored on a three-run home run to center by Mason, her second HR of the season, to make it 10-5 FSU.

Sandercock improved to 8-1 on the season with the win, allowing four unearned runs on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Davis gave up just one hit in 1.2 innings of shutout relief, with one walk and one strikeout.

The Seminoles will close out the weekend on Sunday with a pair of games against Penn and Detroit Mercy at 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively.