FSU Softball: Three takeaways from game one win over Washington

FSU softball squandered opportunities but did enough to best Washington of game one in the WCWS.

FSU softball is one win away from its first National Championship with a 1-0 win over No. 5 seed Washington Monday night.

The Lady Noles used outstanding defense, good pitching and a timely homerun by Anna Shelnutt for the victory.

Meghan King shutdown the Huskies for a complete game five hit shutout while striking out six. She stretched her streak of not given up an earned run to 33.1 innings.

The Huskies’ pitcher Gabbie Plain matched King with no runs given up except for the homerun given up against Shelnutt.

That Was a Bomb

However, it’s arguable the Lady Noles should have won the game more comfortably. There were several times they had runners on base with less than two outs and couldn’t come through in the clutch.

There were times when the Huskies were in prime position to score but King was able to get out of the jam as well.

It was a well played game under intense pressure, but the play of the game was made my Jessie Warren in the bottom of the seventh.

Washington’s first batter in the inning led off with a sharp single up the middle and then this happened.

Play of the Game

That’s one of the best plays you’re going to see on a softball field. What some folk don’t realize is there was nobody covering third base if Warren doesn’t make the catch.

I’m not sure the Washington runner could have taken third, but she already had a running start and was nearly at second base when Warren caught the ball.

If Warren misses the catch and the balls rolls away she’s probably at third with no outs.

Now, King had already gotten out of jams earlier in the game, but the probability of Washington scoring at that point is high.

Three Takeways

• Lady Noles have to take advantage of runners in scoring position
• Great Defense/Pitching
• Hitters need to be more selective at the plate

The first and third one go hand-in-hand for the most part. There were times when the players were too anxious swinging at balls up in the zone with runners in scoring position.

The thought process was a ball up in the zone can be hit into the outfield for a sacrifice fly, but those pitches were not strikes they were swinging out and thus the popups that turned into outs.

Meghan King was great like she has been all season but she had some good defensive plays made behind her Monday night.

Next: Fans React To FSU Softball Playing For National Championship

If they can keep that defense/pitching while being more selective while hitting, the Lady Noles should be bringing home their first National Championship.