TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (seminoles.com) – Florida State sophomore right-hander Lacey Waldrop had everything working inside the circle on Sunday afternoon as she recorded her second career no-hitter in an 8-0 mercy-rule victory over Troy in the championship game of the Renegade Classic at JoAnne Graf Field.
Aside from a fielding error to open the bottom of the first inning, Waldrop (5-3) retired her next 15 batters faced as she showcased a zipping fastball and some tricky offspeed pitches in her repertoire to help the Seminoles (13-8) end the weekend on a positive note. The Chester, Va. native struck out nine batters in just five innings, falling just short of her career high of 11 set in a seven-inning win over UCF this season on Feb. 20.
“Lacey responded so well today and had everything going for her,” head coach and pitching coach Lonni Alameda said. “She executed her pitches so well today and mixed things up and kept a good-hitting Troy team off balanced. I think her confidence continued to climb as the game progressed and with the offensive support she had it was really easy to feel comfortable out there. Hopefully this builds toward something bigger for her and our team.”
Waldrop’s first career no-hitter also occurred in a five-inning win over Ole Miss on Feb. 12, 2012. A few highlights of her performance Sunday included not allowing a ball to reach the outfield except for Troy pitcher Rachel Rigney’s flyout to left field in the fourth. In the bottom of the third, Waldrop also struck out the side as Troy was designated as the home team because of being the higher seed in tournament play.
Florida State produced 10 base hits Sunday afternoon, its sixth double-digit hit performance of the year. Junior Courtney Senas finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and junior catcher Celeste Gomez added two hits including her third home run of the season. Kelly Hensley finished 2-for-4 with an RBI double, her fourth multiple-hit game of the season.
Senas’ double down the left field line in the top of the first helped Florida State jump on top of Troy early. Hensley followed and recorded an infield single to second base. Already heading to third base, Senas instinctively went home on the throw to first base and gave the Seminoles a 1-0 lead.
Kirstin Austin started off the second inning with a double down the left field line. She then advanced on a wild pitch, and Monica Perry followed with an RBI groundout to second base to put the Seminoles ahead by a 2-0 score through the first two frames.
Florida State loaded the bases in the top of the third following a nice bunt single by Morgan Bullock to the left side. However, a fielder’s choice resulted in an out at home plate and a groundout to Troy shortstop Bailey Blake prevented Florida State from crossing the plate.
Florida State punctuated its performance with six runs scored in the top of the fifth. Following a single by Maddie O’Brien, Gomez drove a 2-1 pitch far over the centerfield wall for a two-run shot. Pinch hitter Bailey Schinella would eventually step in and lifted a 1-2 outside pitch to right center for an RBI single, making it 5-0.
Senas provided a big extra base hit with her second triple of the season, a two-run hit off the right center wall. Hensley then added an RBI double to make it 8-0.
Waldrop finished the game in the bottom of the fifth, striking out Brittany Russ before inducing two consecutive groundouts to end the game.
The Seminoles return with a home game against Presbyterian on Tuesday, March 5 at 6 p.m. Florida State then begins conference play on the road at NC State for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 9 and a single game on March 10.
