BLACKSBURG, Va. – More late inning drama for the FSU softball team. The 10th ranked Noles (26-7, 8-1 ACC) plated four runs in the 6th inning and one more in the 7th inning to earn a 5-2 victory against Virginia Tech (22-6, 3-5 ACC) on Sunday at Tech Softball Park.
“Another outstanding job by this team to battle and fight from behind and not give up until the end,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “We had excellent production from the bottom of our lineup and Lacey pitched another great game for us. Great to get the series sweep on the road and I’m really proud of how we competed this weekend.”
The Seminoles had a few scoring chances in the early going, getting multiple base runners on in each of the first two innings on a double by Alex Powers and a single Victoria Daddis, along with walks to Macey Cheatham and Maddie O’Brien.
However, Virginia Tech starter Mikaela Aiken worked her way out of those jams both times. Aiken allowed just two hits and zero runs through the first 5.0 innings of the game.
Virginia Tech also had baserunners in the early going as FSU starter Lacey Waldrop allowed two hits and a walk over the first three innings. The Hokies plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth as a single and a walk allowed Lauren Gaskill to give VT a 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI single to left field.
The Seminoles finally were able to get to Aiken in the top of the sixth inning as Powers led off with a walk. She was pinch-run for by Bella D’Errico. Bailey Schinella followed with a grounder to the first baseman, Bailey Liddle, but her throw to second base sailed into left field allowing runners to end up at second and third. Lauren Harris then entered the game to run for Schinella.
Ellie Cooper tied the game at 1-1 on a bunt single that slipped by Aiken in the circle, allowing D’Errico to score. Daddis came to the plate next and ripped the first pitch of her at bat into the left field corner for a two-run double to give Florida State a 3-1 lead. Victoria East pinch-ran for Daddis at second.
Virginia Tech’s Maggie Tyler came on in relief of Aiken as the Seminoles continued to bat. Alex Kossoff dropped a double into left field to move East to third. For the second consecutive game, Jessica Warren reached on a strikeout and wild pitch, which loaded the bases for O’Brien.
The senior from Palm Harbor, Fla., drew her second walk of the game, and NCAA-leading 44th of the season, to bring in another run and make it 4-1 Seminoles.
The Noles added another run in the top of the seventh as Harris started off the inning with a single to center and East followed later in the inning with an RBI double to left to make it 5-1 Florida State as Virginia Tech came to bat in the seventh.
The Hokies were able to get the leadoff batter on base as Cooper’s throw on a grounder by Liddle to second was dropped by East. Liddle later scored on a double by Kylie McGoldrick to make it 5-2 Florida State. Waldrop secured the win by getting Michelle Prong to fly out to left field to end the inning.
Waldrop (17-3) earned the complete-game victory, scattering five hits and allowing two runs, one earned with two walks and two strikeouts.
VT’s Aiken (5-1) took the loss after giving up four runs, two earned in 5.0 innings with six walks and one strikeout. Tyler pitched the final 2.0 innings of the game and surrendered three hits and one run with one walk and two strikeouts.
The win gave the Seminoles the series sweep over the Hokies. Florida State has swept 13 of its last 17 conference opponents dating back to April 6, 2013.
***FSU Athletics
