5 Things You May Have Missed in College Softball Friday
Seminoles Continue to Dominate ACC
The Florida State softball team continued its undefeated start to 2017 at home, as well as in the ACC, in a 3-0 shutout over North Carolina on Friday night at JoAnne Graf Field. The Seminoles improved to 45-3-1 overall and 22-0 in ACC play. Redshirt sophomore Meghan King tossed the Friday complete-game one-hitter as the Noles won their 24th consecutive ACC game, setting a new league and school record. “Meghan (King) did an awesome job in the circle, getting strikeouts and also allowing her defense to make plays behind her. We’ll need to go back and make some adjustments for tomorrow, but I think we are in a good spot for the rest of the weekend”, said Seminole head coach Lonni Alameda after the victory. Game two of the series will be on Saturday, with first pitch coming at 1:00 p.m.
Gopher Seniors Shine
Minnesota Gopher seniors Sam Macken and Sara Groenewegen have had big time careers for the University of Minnesota and kicked off senior weekend with great performances in an 8-0 victory over Purdue. Macken homered twice including a fifth inning walk-off and Groenewegen tossed her seventh career no-hitter in the win. Groenewegen pitched a gem in game one of the series, notching 12 strikeouts, a no-hitter, and moved to 24-2 on the season. After Friday’s win, she now has an ERA of 0.53 and 227 strikeouts this season. The Gophers move to 46-3 with a 16-1 Big Ten record. They have now won 17 straight games. Minnesota and Purdue return to action on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
Oakland Sweeps Valpo
Oakland earned a doubleheader sweep over Valparaiso on Friday night at the Valpo Softball Complex. The Golden Grizzlies won the first game over the Crusaders 9-2 and the second 4-3 in 11 innings. Erin Kownacki picked up both wins in the circle for the Oakland, going the distance with eight strikeouts in game one followed by tossing 4.0 innings in relief with four strikeouts in the second game. Haley Zemmer also went 7.0 innings in the second game with four strikeouts receiving the no decision. On the offensive side of game two, Kelsie Swanson went 3-for-6 at the plate with a clutch RBI double in the 11th inning giving Oakland the win and doubleheader sweep. Oakland and Valpo will play the series finale on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Tigers Rally Past Missouri
LSU defeated Missouri in a 3-2 comeback win on Friday night in the SEC series opener at Tiger Park. In a game that started with a wild first that saw the visitors score two runs in the opening frame, the Tigers battled back and were able to tie the game in third with a two-run home run by Sahvanna Jaquish. This was her seventh long ball of the year for the Tigers. Tigers starting pitcher Allie Walljasper (13-3) brought in the game-winning run in the fourth on a base hit and held on in the circle for the victory. LSU finished the game with four hits, with Jaquish leading the pack going 2-for-3 with her pair of RBIs and a run scored, while Bailey Landry and Walljasper had the other two Tiger hits. LSU will close out the series with Missouri on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 4:30 at Tiger Park.
Aggies Top Wildcats
Texas A&M defeated Kentucky, 4-2, Friday night at John Cropp Stadium. The Aggies took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. Samantha Show led off the inning with a walk and Erica Russell followed with a single and was moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Keeli Milligan. Tori Vidales drew a walk to load the bases before Kaitlyn Alderink plated a run on a fielder’s choice. In the third, the Aggies extended the lead to 4-0. Kristen Cuyos singled up the middle before Ashley Walters was hit by a pitch. Samantha Show doubled off the wall in center, scoring both runners and later touched home on a Milligan single to right. Kentucky scored a run in the fourth on a wild pitch and cut the lead to 4-2 in the sixth on a RBI single by Jenny Schaper. In the seventh, the Wildcats loaded the bases with one out, but Payton McBride shut the door on the comeback attempt with a strikeout and fly out to left to earn her third save of the season. Show notched her 17th win of the season, throwing 5.1 innings, giving up five hits, two runs, one earned, with four strikeouts. The Aggies and Wildcats return to action on Saturday at 2 p.m.
