University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Florida State Sweeps Southern Miss In Doubleheader
2/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Files associated with this release:
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Florida State Sweeps Southern Miss In Doubleheader
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State, ranked No. 16 in the nation, swept a pair of games from Southern Miss, Sunday, in Tallahassee, Fla.
The Seminoles won the opener 5-1 and then took the second game, 9-1 in five innings. The Lady Eagles fell to 1-4 with the losses, while Florida State improved to 8-0.
In the opening game, Florida State pitcher Casey Hunter (4-0) picked up the win after posting the second no-hitter of her career. Hunter also had 11 strikeouts.
Despite four Seminole errors, the Lady Eagles managed just one run in the game, scoring in the first inning when Heather Bell scored on a wild pitch, giving the Lady Eagles the 1-0 lead.
The Seminoles threatened in the bottom of the frame though, loading the bases on freshman pitcher Jessica Saunier. But with two outs, Saunier forced Veronice Wootson into a fly out to left field, ending the threat and preserving the 1-0 lead.
Florida State broke through in the bottom of the third inning when Jess van der Linden sent a two-run shot to right field for the 2-1 lead. The hosts then added runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Saunier took the loss in the opener, giving up three runs on four hits in four innings of work. Jessica Holaway pitched two innings in relief, giving up two runs on six hits. The two pitchers combined for four strikeouts in the game.
In the second game, Florida State was the first to strike with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kim Hoffer reached on a bunt single and then came home on van der Linden's RBI-double. Carly Brieske then scored van der Linden and Lesley Palmer, who reached on an error, with a three-run blast to left field, and the Seminoles had the 4-0 advantage.
The Seminoles tacked on a pair of runs in the third inning, scoring on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to right field.
Southern Miss manufactured a run of its own in the top of the fourth inning. Jessica Huerta led off with a double and then reached on Auriel Jenkins' sacrifice bunt for a fielder's choice. Jenkins then attempted to steal second and was out on the play, but Huerta scored on the delayed steal, putting the Lady Eagles on the board.
But Florida State picked up the run and then some with nine runs in the bottom of the inning. Beth Wade opened the inning with a solo home run to right center field. Carey Galuppi then reached on a double to right field, and Katie Fricke hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run to clear the bases and give the Seminoles a 9-1 lead, and the scoring remained through the end.
Southern Miss managed four hits in the second game and committed one error. Holaway took the loss in the second contest, allowing nine runs, six earned on eight hits in four inningsof work.
