TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Senior Jessie Warren climbed further up the NCAA all-time home run and RBI record book, but the Seminoles’ seventh-inning rally came up just short on Friday night as No. 6 Florida State (50-11) dropped game one of the NCAA Tallahassee Super Regional to No. 11 LSU (45-15) by a score of 6-5.
Warren hit a three-run shot to center with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but LSU’s Carley Hoover came in to end the game with a strikeout for her second save of the season. Warren is now tied for 10th all-time in NCAA history with 79 career home runs, while her four RBI on the day increased her career total to 265, which ranks 11th in NCAA history.
“Obviously not the outcome you want in game one, but love the fight and there we were in the later innings of the ballgame to make some things happen,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “I think that (LSU’s Allie) Walljasper pitched a pretty good ballgame early on and made some adjustments later. Now it is about a double-dipper tomorrow. Lay it all out there. We’ve been there before and pretty excited about the opportunity to get after two games tomorrow.”
After both teams were retired in order in the first inning, LSU opened the top of the second inning with a solo home run by Amanda Doyle to take an early 1-0 lead. Michaela Schlattman hit a one-out double later in the inning, but FSU starting pitcher Kylee Hanson ended the threat with a pair of strikeouts.
The Tigers got a baserunner in the third inning on a one-out single by Aliyah Andrews. After another Hanson strikeout, Anna Shelnutt’s throw to Sydney Sherrill was in time to catch Andrews on a stolen base attempt to end the inning. Andrews entered the game 42-for-43 on stolen bases and had not been retired on an attempt since February 9.
Florida State got a single in the third inning from Cassidy Davis and a walk by Sherrill in the fourth inning, but neither got beyond first base as the game remained 1-0 LSU.
LSU scored four runs, including three unearned runs, in the top of the fifth as Schlattman hit the first pitch of the fifth inning over the wall in left center for her eighth home run of the season. Shelbi Sunseri followed with a double to center, ending the day for FSU’s Hanson as Davis took over in the circle.
An FSU fielding error and a walk loaded the bases with one out in the inning. Cali Harrodhandled a groundball to short and threw home for out number two, but a walk by Emily Griggs and a two-run double by Doyle pushed the LSU lead to 5-0, heading to the bottom of the fifth.
Harrod opened the Seminole half of the fifth with a single to left center and Dani Morgandrove her in with an RBI double to right center. An infield single by pinch hitter Leslie Farrisput runners on the corners and Warren made it a 5-2 game after five innings with a sacrifice fly to center.
LSU added to its lead in the seventh with a double by Becca Schulte and an RBI single Taryn Antoine for a 6-2 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh inning.
The first two FSU batters were retired on a strikeout and a groundout before Davis extended the game with a walk and was pinch run for by Deja Bush. Farris hit another infield single to put runners on the corners with two outs, setting the stage for Warren’s home run. After LSU made a pitching change to bring in Hoover, she struck out Carsyn Gordon to end the game.
Hanson (27-5) took the loss after giving up three runs, two earned on five hits over 4.0 innings with four strikeouts and zero walks. Davis tossed 3.0 innings of relief in her second-longest appearance of the season and allowed three runs, one earned, with four hits and two walks.
Game two of the NCAA Tallahassee Super Regional will be played on May 26 at 5:00 p.m. with LSU as the home team. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2, with live stats available through NCAA.com. If Florida State wins game two, the third and deciding game of the Super Regional will be played 30 minutes after game two, due to the threat of incoming weather from Subtropical Storm Alberto. Links for broadcast video and live stats will be available on the softball schedule page of Seminoles.com.
Reserved tickets for this weekend have already sold out for the NCAA Tallahassee Super Regional, but tickets do remain for berm and standing-room-only areas at $5 per game. Tickets can be purchased at JoAnne Graf Field or ordered either on Seminoles.com or by calling 1-888-FSU-NOLE. The ticket office is located at Gate B on the west side of Doak Campbell Stadium and the office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET.
The FSU Clear Bag policy will be in effect for all NCAA postseason events at JoAnne Graf Field. Fans are allowed items that can fit in one 12”x12” clear tote bag or a small 4.5”x6.5” clutch or purse. Items that are not allowed include camera or binocular cases, backpacks, printed pattern bags or any size tote or mesh bags.
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