FSU Softball reaches record 5th straight Super Regional in 8-5 win over UGA
For a school-record fifth straight season, the Florida State softball team will play in the NCAA Super Regional round.
No. 4 FSU (54-6-1) completed its run through the Tallahassee Regional with an 8-5 win over No. 25 Georgia (35-22) on Sunday at JoAnne Graf Field. The Seminoles have now won 13 consecutive regional tournament round games.
"I'm a day-by-day kinda person, so I don't even know things. [FSU sports information director] Scott Moriak is amazing at that stuff, and I'm not," joked Seminoles coach Lonni Alameda about setting a new school record. "But I'll tell you this: Coach Graf had an amazing program here, and they did not have Super Regionals at the time. Super Regionals are somewhat kind of new. ...
"I'm trying to make sure we continue the tradition of being excellent on and off the field."
The NCAA introduced Super Regionals back in 2005, and Graf's final season came in 2008 with Alameda taking over the program in 2009.
FSU's first Super Regional appearance came in 2006. It's the sixth Super Regional in school history.
The Seminoles became the fourth team to reach the 2017 Super Regionals, joining Auburn, Kentucky and Utah. All four teams were undefeated in the tournament's opening round.
FSU walked off the field still awaiting its next opponent. The Seminoles will be paired against the winner of the Baton Rouge Regional which, as of 3 p.m. Sunday, could either be Louisiana-Lafayette, LSU or McNeese State.
Regardless of the opponent, the Seminoles will host next week's best two-of-three Super Regional, which will either start Thursday or Friday. It will be the third time in four seasons the Seminoles have hosted a Super Regional.
FSU, despite playing at Graf, was the visiting team Sunday due to NCAA rules. The Seminoles jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Jessie Warren pelted her 23rd home run of the season in the top of the first.
"I think just coming out and getting my swing off, just like you said, it sets the tone for the team," said Warren, who was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. "It gets us energy and kind of relaxes [pitcher] Meghan [King] out there on the field and defense. It's easier to pitch for pitchers who are ahead."
King, who threw 6 2/3 innings against the Bulldogs in a 7-1 win Saturday, went 6 1/3 innings on Sunday.
FSU was already up 5-0 when Georgia scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning.
The Seminoles pushed their edge to 7-2 in the top of the fourth when freshman left fielder Dani Morgan connected on a two-run home run to center field with two outs.
"Coming off the first inning, scoring in the first inning, it's definitely a relief going out there," King said. "Especially being [the] away [team]."
Georgia would grab a run in the bottom of the fifth but trailed 8-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
King, who improves to 27-2 on the season, allowed two runs, which saw Jessica Burroughs enter the game. Burroughs, on three pitches, recorded two outs when she induced the game-clinching double play.
Burroughs not only picked up her fourth save of the season, but she also tied the school mark for most saves in a year plus most saves in a career with nine. She opened the Tallahassee Regional with a one-hitter in a 3-0 win over Princeton. It was her 91st career victory and put her third all-time in wins by an FSU pitcher.
Several elements contributed to FSU's weekend success. Burroughs, King and freshman reliever Cassidy Davis combined to allow six runs in three games.
There was also the rise of the Seminoles' freshmen. Catcher Anna Shelnutt opened the regional by going 2 for 3 with one RBI while catching Burroughs' one-hitter against the Tigers. The Georgia native hit two home runs against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Sunday was Morgan's turn, given she led the Seminoles with three RBIs. Morgan established herself as the team's starting right fielder in her first year. She's now batting .329 with 54 hits, 10 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 36 RBIs and a .986 fielding percentage.
"It's awesome knowing at any point in the game, anyone can get their swing off and get a hit and get it going for the team," Morgan said. "You just have to trust in your teammates, and we trust in each other a lot."
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