5 Things You May Have Missed in College Softball Friday
Conference play has officially kicked off for DI College Softball teams all across the country. Below are five things that stood out to us at FPN, that you may have missed from Friday’s play.
Gator Pitchers Combine for Perfect Game
The No. 4 Florida softball recorded the program’s second perfect game of the season in an 18-0 victory over Hampton Friday, March 30, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Aleshia Ocasio (13-2) combined with Natalie Lugo to throw only the second combined perfect game in Florida history. The duo needed just 59 pitches and tallied seven strikeouts in the effort. It’s the first time either pitcher have been involved in a perfect game. Another team notable; all 19 players on the UF roster received playing time in the game against Hampton. The Gators game two on the day against Jacksonville was halted with one out in the top of the fifth inning tied 1-1. The Gators (29-4) and Dolphins will resume play tomorrow after the 1 p.m. contest between Florida and Hampton (13-15).
Texas State Remains Unbeaten in SBC Play
The No. 23 Texas State softball team (24-8, 7-0 SBC) earned two more Sun Belt Conference victories, defeating the Georgia Southern Panthers (21-12, 6-5 SBC) twice at Bobcat Softball Stadium on Friday afternoon. In game one, the Bobcats defeated the Eagles, 6-1 before making a late-inning comeback in game two, to secure the 5-4 victory. Senior pitcher Randi Rupp led the way for the Bobcats in game one of the three-game set with the Eagles. She pitched seven innings, gave up one hit and struck out 14 batters, one shy of matching her career-best. In her last two appearances in San Marcos, Rupp has allowed one earned run, one hit and has not issued a walk while striking out 24 batters. Texas State will go for the series sweep of Georgia Southern on Saturday at noon.
Fiser Tosses No-Hitter for Gophers
The Minnesota softball team had a quite the homecoming, after returning to Jane Sage Cowles Stadium following a 31 game road trip. The Gophers gave the home crowd a show as sophomore Amber Fiser tossed 13 scoreless innings while collecting her first collegiate no-hitter. The sophomore right-hander led Minnesota (20-13, 3-2 B1G) to a pair of 6-0 wins over Illinois (22-13, 3-4 B1G) Friday afternoon. Fiser’s no-hitter was the 25th thrown in Minnesota softball history. Minnesota and Illinois wrap up the Big Ten series on Sunday, April 1 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium beginning at noon.
Texas A&M Takes Down South Carolina
The No. 11 Texas A&M softball team defeated No. 8 South Carolina, 3-0, in the series opener Friday evening at the Aggie Softball Complex. Aggie pitcher Trinity Harrington earned her 10th win and sixth shutout of the season as the senior held the Gamecocks (29-5, 5-2 SEC) to four hits and only allowed one walk while striking out five. The Aggies (31-7, 4-3 SEC) outhit South Carolina, 7-4, and were led by Riley Sartain, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Erica Russell and Tori Vidales each drove in a run. Vidales leads the team with 39 RBI on the season. The Aggies and Gamecocks square off at 1 p.m. for game two of the series Saturday afternoon at the Aggie Softball Complex.
OU Pitchers Combine for No-Hitter
Mariah Lopez and Paige Lowary combined for No. 5 Oklahoma’s first no-hitter of the season as the Sooners run-ruled No. 19 Baylor 9-0 in five innings. The Sooners (30-2, 5-0 Big 12) claimed the series over the Lady Bears (20-8, 0-2 Big 12) as OU extended its winning streak to 21 consecutive games, the longest active streak in Division I. Additionally, OU has now won 35 straight road contests, dating back to 2016. The no-hitter was the 50th in program history, but just the fourth ever that was a combined effort. Lopez moved to 9-0 on the season as she tossed the first three innings with three strikeouts. Lowary closed the final two frames, registering one strikeout. Only two Baylor batters reached in the contest, one on an error and another who was hit by a pitch. The Oklahoma offense continues to produce. The Sooners are outscoring their opponents 49-1 in conference play this season. The final game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. CT.
