TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – For the first time in 14 games, the 9th ranked Florida State (22-6, 5-1 ACC) softball team lost. Notre Dame's Rachel Nasland pitched a no-hitter against the Noles for a 12-0 victory in five innings.
“Hats off to Nasland, they came out and swung the bats and did some good things,” said head coach Lonni Alameda. “Nothing to take away from Notre Dame, but we need to take on the challenge of figuring out who we are right now.
“It’s about mentality right now, a between-the-ears mentality and what kind of ball club we want to be. I expect the team to come out with a little more fight on Tuesday. There are a lot of ballgames like this throughout your season that can be turning points, so how we respond this week and how we come together as a team is going to be big.”
Notre Dame took an early lead on Seminole starter Jessica Burroughs. Emilee Koerner hit a triple into the right field corner in the first inning and later scored on an infield ground out.
The Irish added six more runs in the third on four hits along with two Seminole errors to take a 7-0 lead through three innings. Morgan Reed hit a three-run home run in the frame, while Koerner and Micaela Arizmendi added RBI base hits.
Burroughs (8-3) was replaced in the circle to start the fourth inning and took the loss after giving up seven runs, six earned, on five hits over 3.0 innings. She also walked two and recorded two strikeouts.
Bailey Schinella pitched the final 2.0 innings for Florida State, allowing the Irish to score five more runs – four in the fourth and one more in the fifth. Schinella was charged with just three earned runs, and gave up four hits and one walk.
Nasland (7-6) pitched a nearly perfect game for Notre Dame, allowing just two baserunners on a walk to Victoria East in the second inning and a walk to Maddie O’Brien in the fourth. The sophomore pitcher finished with a complete-game shutout and recorded four strikeouts.
The no-hitter was the first by an opposing pitcher against Florida State since May 26, 2013, when Texas’ Blaire Luna tossed a 7.0-inning shutout of the Noles in game two of the NCAA Super Regional.
Florida State is scheduled to host two midweek games this week. Colgate and Troy come to FSU on March 17 and 18, respectively.
***FSU Athletics
