May 13 UPDATE:
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – No. 3 Florida State (51-5) is headed to the ACC Championship game after an 8-6 win over No. 12 Duke (41-8).
The Seminoles had an offensive explosion in the top of the fifth inning, scoring five runs on four hits. Jahni Kerr led off with a walk and two batters later, Chloe Culp gave FSU a 2-0 lead with her second home run of the season. Josie Muffley then singled on a bunt and came around to score on a Kaley Mudge double down the left-field line. Kalei Harding capped off the inning with her 14th home run of the season over the scoreboard in left field.
Duke punched back in the bottom of the second inning with one run on two hits. An Ana Gold double scored Caroline Jacobson. The Blue Devils would go on to score six unanswered runs to take a 6-5 lead.
Down one run in the top of the six, the Florida State offense got its wheels turning. Michaela Edenfield led off with a bloop single to right field. Hallie Wacaser then reached on a fielder’s choice. With a runner on second Josie Muffley reached on another fielder’s choice but Autumn Belviy was safe at third due to an error. A Mudge single to shortstop tied things up at six and three pitches later a Sydney Sherrill double through the left side, giving the Noles an 8-6 lead.
Danielle Watson started in the circle for the Noles and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. Kathryn Sandercock entered in relief with one out in the fourth inning and held the Duke offense to two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Sandercock improved to 28-1 on the season.
Up Next
Florida State will play Clemson tomorrow at 1:00 PM on ESPN with the ACC Championship on the line.
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No. 3 Florida State (50-5) advanced to the ACC Tournament semifinals with a 5-3 win over Virginia (27-24) on Thursday night.
After three and a half scoreless innings the Seminoles got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with a pair of runs. Sydney Sherrill led off the inning with a double to left center field and then advanced to third on a ground ball back to the pitcher by Kalei Harding. Mack Leonard then sent her home on a sacrifice fly to center field. FSU extended its lead to two after Devyn Flaherty doubled to left field and then scored after Jahni Kerr singled to right field.
The Garnet and Gold extended their lead to three after five innings. Chloe Culp led off the inning with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Amaya Ross. Ross then stole second and advance to third on a ground out. Kaley Mudge sent Ross home after slapping a ground ball to the shortstop.
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The Seminoles opened up the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a pair of solo home runs by Harding and Flaherty. Harding hit a home run over the scoreboard in left field and Flaherty hit a line drive straight off the scoreboard.
Virginia was able to cut the lead down to two in the top of the seventh inning but that was not enough as the Noles would win 5-3.
Kathryn Sandercock started and pitched the first six innings of the game before being replaced by Mack Leonard who would not record an out before Sandercock would enter back into the game. Sandercock would allow only five hits and no runs while striking out three Virginia batters in seven innings of work. She improved to 27-1 on the season.
Florida State will play Duke on Friday at 3:30 PM on the ACC Network with a shot to go to the ACC Championship game.
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