FSU Softball begins defense of national title in dominant fashion

The FSU softball team has started off the year just as they left off in 2018, by going out and not knowing how to lose in their first 11 games.

They’re explosive, they’re exciting, they are more than a cure to a bad football season – they are one of the biggest parts of the FSU athletics program right now, and they’re just plain fun to watch. The FSU softball has started off the 2019 season exactly where they ended up last year: dominating competition.

The Noles took part in the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational this past weekend and absolutely dominated some of the top teams in the nation. Playing Ohio State, Oklahoma, LSU, Minnesota, FAU and Tennessee, they were the only unbeaten team in the Invitational at the end of the day and are now 11-0 after knocking off three top ten teams.

The first game against Ohio State the Noles won 3-1 with Meghan King as the starting pitcher. King retired her first 12 batters, including nine strikeouts, and King’s amazing ability to work a batter cannot be overstated. She will be a huge factor in all the Noles do this year.

The Noles were not on the board until the bottom of the fourth inning though, with Anna Shelnutt’s home run. After that, Zoe Casas and Cassidy Davis managed to extend the lead to 2-0 after both hitting doubles.

Next up was the third-ranked team in the nation, Oklahoma. Florida State did not flinch.

The Noles gained their lead with home runs by Dani Morgan and Cassidy Davis. Oklahoma was able to retake the lead and the bottom of the third 4-3, but the Noles refused to give up adding even more home runs from Elizabeth Mason and Anna Shelnutt to retake the lead. Carsyn Gordon would add another one later, for a total of five home runs against the number three team in the nation, for a final score of 7-4.

The very next day they had to play the number eight in the nation, LSU, and handled it like it was no problem, run-ruling them 9 to 1. The game ended in a two-run home run by Cali Harrod, not like home runs are a problem for the Lady Noles to find this year. Again,  King dominated the mound retiring six of the seven batters she faced including five strikeouts through the first two innings.

Florida State would go on to defeat Minnesota later that night 17-6, Florida Atlantic University the next day 10-5, with the only challenge left being the number six ranked team in the nation, Tennessee.

By the fourth inning, King had her fourth strikeout of the game and the Noles led 5-0 but Tennessee managed to load the bases with two outs until Danni Morgan robbed a home run that would have tied the game. After that, the Noles held their own winning 5 to 2 and go undefeated in the invitational and on this season.

FSU softball returns home Wednesday to take on South Alabama before the Unconquered Invitational this weekend – where the Noles will take on Lipscomb, Elon and Samford over a three day period.