Florida State softball saw its season come to an end on Sunday afternoon in a 4-2 loss against the UCF Knights in the Tallahassee Regional. UCF took an early lead on a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. Florida State battled back to tie the game with a run in the top of the third and fourth.
However, the fourth inning was likely the difference in the game. FSU looked like it had taken a 4-2 lead on a Shelby McKenzie single up the middle. However, UCF challenged the play, and it revealed that the freshman catcher Anna Hinde left second base before the pitcher released the ball.
The result of the play was the third out of the inning, and those two runs came off the board. Lonni Alameda made the questionable decision to bring freshman Bella Dimitrijevic into the game to start the bottom of the fourth. I thought it was questionable because UCF has 4-5 players with legit home run power, and Dimitrijevic has the propensity to give up home runs.
The first batter got on via a rare Isa Torres error, and the next batter hit a two-run home run, which proved to be the difference in the game. Florida State threatened in the top of the seventh, with two runners on and the winning run at the plate. However, Haley Griggs flew out on a foul ball to right field to end the game.
Florida State didn't play well in either game against UCF. The loss against Stetson probably haunted them because they looked tired in that fourth game in two days.
Florida State beat itself. The baserunning miscue was costly, and Alameda’s decision not to go with her two best pitchers was a headscratcher(because she brought Danley and Francik into the game after UCF got the lead again). If they were available, why didn’t she go with them to start with?
Also, the FSU offense only scored four runs in two games against a mediocre pitching staff, probably a foreshadowing of what was waiting in the Super Regionals against UCLA.
This regional loss is worse than the 2022 loss by a good bit. Florida State returns nearly every important piece next year. They need more offensive firepower and another legitimate arm inside the circle. Will Lonni Alameda abstain from the transfer portal again? We’ll have to wait and see. Â
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