Scott Moriak, Florida State Communications (Photo Courtesy of Florida State Athletics)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State junior pitcher Lacey Waldrop and redshirt junior shortstop Maddie O’Brien have been named Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, as announced by the conference office on Monday.
Waldrop anchored the Seminoles in the circle this weekend. She faced the No. 9 team in the country twice and pitched solidly in both outings. Waldrop was one out away from the win on Feb. 7 when a two-run error gave Nebraska a 4-3 win. She wasn’t affected by the loss in her next game against UTEP, throwing 4.0 shutout innings and only allowing two hits.
In her rematch against Nebraska on Sunday, Waldrop was dominant. After surrendering the Huskers’ lone run, the junior only allowed one hit over the final 4.1 innings and only two Nebraska base runners reached third base for the entire game. Waldrop finished the complete game victory with three strikeouts, allowing only four hits, one walk and one unearned run. Waldrop has not allowed an earned run in her last 15.1 innings and lowered her season ERA to 0.78.
O’Brien was an offensive force in Las Cruces, N.M. She batted .500 (8-for-16) and hit four home runs, drove in 12 RBI, scored six runs and posted a 1.250 slugging percentage in the five game tournament. She hit two home runs in the same game for the second time in her career against Saint Mary’s, including a grand slam in the sixth which ended the game.
In the two games against No. 9 Nebraska, O’Brien went 3-for-5 (.600) with a home run, two RBI, a walk and two runs scored. The `Noles split the series with the Huskers and it marked the first time that Florida State has defeated a top-10 opponent since taking down No. 6 Georgia Tech on April 24, 2010.
“I am so proud of our girls this weekend and this is a great honor for how Lacey and Maddie performed this weekend,” said head coach Lonni Alameda. “It is a TEAM effort and we know as a program that we will continue to work every day to put ourselves in a good position to have success.”
The No. 12 `Noles are back in Tallahassee for the 2014 home opener as Florida State hosts the Renegade Classic from February 14-16. Southern Miss, Hofstra and North Dakota State will be in town for the tournament and the Seminoles’ first game will be against the NDSU Bison on Friday, February 14 at 4:00 p.m.
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