TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Senior Jessie Warren continued her impressive offensive career, hitting a home run in both games on Saturday as No. 9 Florida State (12-4) earned a 3-1 win over No. 10 Alabama (9-2) and topped Georgia State (7-8) by a score of 8-0 in six innings on Saturday night at the Easton Bama Bash.
Warren ended the day with four RBI and is tied with Whitney Haller of Georgia Tech (2006-09) for the ACC record of 228 RBI. Her two home runs increased her career total to 70, which is tied for No. 23 all-time in NCAA softball history.
“Really pleased with how we handled all the adversity today,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “Between the rain delays and challenging situations at the plate and in the field, everyone stayed focused and competed every pitch and helped us get two wins over a pair of quality teams. Both Meghan and Kylee were great in the circle for us today and the defense made some impressive plays behind them. Solid day and hope we can avoid the rain and close out the weekend tomorrow.”
Game 1: No. 9 Florida State 3, No. 10 Alabama 1
Junior Carsyn Gordon put the Seminoles up 1-0 in the top of the second inning, leading off with a solo home run to left, her fifth home run of the season.
FSU starting pitcher Meghan King retired the first three Alabama batters she faced, before a second-inning double by Bailey Hemphill. It snapped a streak of 21 consecutive batters retired over three appearances, dating back to a single by South Alabama’s Kaleigh Todd on February 21.
Warren made it 2-0 in the third inning with a solo home run to right field. Cali Harrod hit a two-out double in the top of the fifth, and she came in to score on an RBI single up the middle by Warren.
Alabama got its second baserunner of the game on a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning, and after a hit-by-pitch, an RBI single by Sydney Booker cut the Seminole lead to 3-1 after five innings.
Alabama threatened in the seventh, as Kaylee Tow led off with a walk. A sacrifice bunt moved her to second and after a fly-out to left, the inning continued with Carrigan Fain being hit by a pitch with two outs. An infield single by Booker loaded the bases, but Gordon caught a pop out in foul territory down the first base line to end the game.
King (6-2) allowed one run with five hits and one walk in her complete-game victory over the Crimson Tide.
Game 2: No. 9 Florida State 8, Georgia State 0 (6 innings)
The Seminole freshmen were the highlights early in game two against Georgia State as Sydney Sherrill gave FSU a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to center in the fourth inning. Redshirt freshman Elizabeth Mason hit a solo home run of her own to lead off the FSU fifth inning and Sherrill later followed with an RBI single in the inning.
Kylee Hanson controlled the game in the circle for the Seminoles, tossing seven strikeouts in the first three innings, including all three outs in the top of the first.
She finished with nine strikeouts in the complete-game 6.0-inning victory, scattering three hits and two walks.
Florida State scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to close out the game with a run-rule victory. Mason added another extra-base hit with a one-out double to left center. Anna Shelnutt walked, but was retired at second on fielder’s choice by Korina Rosario, but Mason sped around third on the play and scored to make it a 5-0 game.
Harrod hit an RBI double into the left field corner to score Rosario and Warren’s two-run home run to right ended the game for the 8-0 Florida State win.
Weather permitting, Florida State will wrap up the Easton Bama Bash on Sunday, February 25 with a single game against Northern Iowa at 12:00 p.m. ET. Tickets are available at www.rolltide.com, and live stats as well as a link for Seminole Softball Radio will be available on the schedule page of Seminoles.com. There is significant rain in the forecast, and decisions will be made on Sunday morning.
