TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast softball (5-10) fell 12-3 in the opening game of its doubleheader against No. 10 Florida State (14-4).
The Seminoles earned the run-rule by matching their eight hits with eight walks. An eight-run third inning provided the bulk of the offensive punch for FSU. Kennedy Harp homered in the first and finished with three RBI; Makenna Sturgis went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Seminoles.
FGCU scored the opening run of the game in the top of the first inning.
Tiffany Meek walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Mackenzie Leiti drove her in with a single down the line in left field. FSU answered in the bottom half of the frame with a sac fly and Harp's home run to take a 3-1 lead.
The eight-run third inning followed for Florida State. The Eagles scratched two runs back in the top of the third.
Emily Chiarella drove in
J'Lyn Guyden with an RBI single and
Olivia Black brought
Kiki Daniels to the plate with an RBI groundout.
FSU added one more run in the bottom of the fourth to bring the game to its eventual 12-3 final.
The Eagles recorded a season-high six hits off of Florida State starter Jazzy Francik in 3.2 innings. The most hits she allowed prior to Thursday was five to Alabama in 4.1 innings pitched. FGCU also struck out just once against Francik, tying her season-low in strikeouts.
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