FSU softball sweeps regular season series from Florida Gators

No. 3 FSU softball (44-8, 19-2 ACC) used a big-time offensive attack, with freshman sensation pitcher McKenna Reid closing the door to sweep the regular season series from the No. 17 Florida Gators 8-7 Wednesday night.

I wrote in the preview FSU hitters would likely get to Florida pitching because that unit isn’t their strong suit. That happened. I also wrote FSU pitchers would need to avoid walks and hitting batters while keeping Florida’s power hitters in check.

That didn’t happen, but the Noles did enough for the win. Mack Leonard got the start on the mound for FSU and walked the lead-off batter, who scored the first run of the game to give Florida a 1-0. However, FSU responded in the top of the second inning with three runs on three hits and a Florida error.

Florida would respond with two runs in the bottom of the third behind a hit and a couple of walks, and an error. They go on to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run-off pitcher Allison Royalty.

However, FSU would reclaim the lead in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs on four hits.

Royalty couldn’t get out of the fifth cleanly, hitting a batter and allowing another home run to make the score 7-6. The Noles would tack on a much-needed insurance run in the top of the sixth to make it 8-6.

However, Royalty would allow another solo shot in the bottom of the frame to make it 8-7. Makenna Reid entered the game in the bottom of the sixth and set them down in order. The bottom of the seventh got interesting, with Florida’s lead-off batter hitting a bloop single.

Reid got the next two batters out before allowing another single, which brought up a Florida batter who had already homered twice.

Lonnie Almeda intentionally walked her to load the bases with two outs, and Reid got the next batter to pop up to the catcher to end the game.

Takeaways

Jahni Kerr continues to kill the Florida Gators. She went 3-3 with three RBI. Devyn Flaherty and Kaley Mudge each had two hits. Katie Dack went 1-2 with two RBI.

FSU batters had 11 hits and six walks. Mack Leonard isn’t a typical starting pitching, so I won’t be too hard on her performance.

She walked three batters and had two wild pitches in 2.1 innings. Allison Royalty continues to make me pull my hair out. She walked two batters and hit two more in 2.2 innings, while allowing three home runs.

However, at least the Noles got to rest Kathryn Sandercock, and Reid only threw 35 pitches in relief with an important ACC series against Louisville on deck this weekend. If the Noles win the series, they’ll claim the ACC regular-season title.