5 Things You May Have Missed in College Softball Friday
FPN Game of the Week
No. 8 Florida State and No. 14 Minnesota showed why they were two of the best teams in the country in a back-and-forth pitcher’s duel that was not decided until the final out on Friday night. The Gophers struck first on an unearned run in the top of the second, and the score remained 1-0 until Sydney Sherrill’s two-RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning put the Seminoles up 3-1. Minnesota answered back in the top of the seventh and cut the lead to 3-2 with the go-ahead run on base with two outs and Kendyl Lindaman at the plate. FSU’s Carsyn Gordon knocked down a ball off the bat of Lindaman that was destined for extra bases down the right field line and ended the game with a put out at first. The Seminoles and Gophers will face off again tomorrow at 3 p.m. in day two of the ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge.
Aggies Power Past Butler and Tulsa
The No. 6 Texas A&M softball team swept day one of the Texas A&M Invitational Friday, defeating Butler, 10-1, in five innings, and Tulsa, 7-0, behind an impressive offensive performance by Tori Vidales at the Aggie Softball Complex. The senior went 5-for-7 on the night with two grand slams, a home run and 9 RBI. The senior made her way to third in the record book for career RBI, passing her former teammate, Cali Lanphear (2013-16) after tallying 9 RBI on the night and 177 in her career. Vidales now ranks fourth all-time in runs in her career with 162, moving in front of Cassie Tysarczyk (2011-14). The Aggies return to action Saturday at 12:15 p.m. against Iowa and a rematch with Tulsa at 3 p.m.
Lady Vols Move to 8-0
Tennessee earned a pair of wins Friday night at the Michele Smith Invitational to move to 8-0 on the season. The Lady Vols earned their third win over a ranked opponent after defeating No. 15 Oklahoma State 5-1 in their opening game. Junior pitcher Matty Moss earned the win in the circle and secured her fourth win of the season. Tennessee earned their second win of the day after defeating UMass Lowell 4-1 in the nightcap. Tennessee will return to the diamond and will face off against Florida Atlantic on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Oregon Offense Continues to Dominate
Oregon moved to 9-0 on the season after earning two run-rule victories on Friday night in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Ducks jumped on Rutgers with a five-run first inning and never looked back in game one. The final score of the contest was 10-0 in five innings. Jenna Lilley went 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Ducks, and DJ Sanders matched Gwen Svekis for the team lead with her fifth home run of the season. In game two against Texas, the Ducks garnered another five-run second inning to push past the Longhorns and earned the 8-0 victory. Oregon returns to the playing field on Saturday and will take on Ole Miss at 6 p.m. PT.
Bobcat Pitcher Reaches 1,000 K’s
The Texas State softball team earned a pair of victories on day one of the Littlewood Classic at Farrington Softball Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University. In game one, the Bobcats took down Illinois State in a pitcher’s duel, 2-1. TXST dismantled North Dakota in game two of the day, 11-2, in six innings of play. Randi Rupp was electric in the circle for the Bobcats against Illinois State. The senior pitched all seven innings, throwing 106 pitches and struck out 13. Rupp also reached 1,000 career strikeouts following her ninth punch out of the contest. She joins Nicole Neuerburg (2001-04) as the only Bobcat pitchers to accumulate at least 1,000 strikeouts in their Texas State careers. Neuerburg holds the Bobcat record with 1,019 K’s during her four year run in the maroon and gold. The Bobcats return to action on Saturday and will take on North Dakota at 3:15 p.m. and Arizona State at 8:15 p.m.
