FSU softball team advances to Super Regionals

By Chris Bony
Outlook writer

UPDATE

The Seminoles were knocked out of super regionals on Friday after losing to the hosting Tennessee Lady Vols in a crucial game 3, 2-1. Florida State lost to the Vols in game 1 on Thursday and then came roaring back to take game 2, 6-1 and force a game 3.

“Being away we want to get some runs early and get hot right away,” said assistant coach Travis Wilson before Thursday’s game. “That’s how you deal with playing the hosting team, you get quick runs and you silence the crowd as quick as possible.

The Seminoles could not overcome the early deficit after Tennessee got up 2-0 in the fourth inning.

They rallied behind their senior pitcher Lacy Waldrop who gave it everything she had for the last game in her collegiate softball career but it was not enough to pull out the win. Waldrop finished the game with two runs, four walks and seven strikeouts.

The Seminoles will lose three award winning and record holding seniors in Maddie O’Brien, Bailey Schinella, and Lacy Waldrop.

The Seminoles are still loaded with young talent to make a strong case for teams next season.

FSU softball team advances to Super Regionals

The Florida State University softball team has a chance at redemption this season as the Seminoles advanced to the NCAA Super Regional for the third consecutive time after defeating UCF 5-0 last Sunday.

The Seminoles hosted the Tallahassee Regional tournament last weekend where they defeated Dartmouth 5-1 on Friday and then posted a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory against UCF on Saturday.

“It’s great to be able to play on your own field,” FSU coach Lonni Alameda said. “You’re in front of all of your fans, you’re familiar with the field, knowing where all of the foul lines are. It’s also awesome to have that extra time to rest.”

“It’s definitely a big part of it, you know you get to sleep in your own bed and not have to worry about travel days,” said assistant coach Travis Wilson. “Also the crowd plays a major role, last year when we beat Michigan those two games in a row, the crowd played a big part in that.”

The Seminoles had a record setting season in 2014 finishing with a record of 55-9 that was cut short when they lost the first two games of the Women’s Collegiate World Series. This year the ACC champs have set out to finish what they started by finishing the regular season with a record of 45-13 and clinching the ninth overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

“I’m so proud of them and how the pulled together as a team and put together such an amazing season,” said Alameda. “We lost six starters after last season and these girls really stepped up and worked hard to get us where we are. Jessica Burroughs, Maddie O’Brien, Bailey Schinella, they’ve all just been amazing and have worked so hard.

“It most certainly hasn’t been easy, we’ve played against some amazing programs and there are more ahead.”

Head Coach Alameda was awarded her third consecutive ACC Coach of the Year award.

“It’s more like coaching staff of the year,” Alameda said. “These guys have been amazing over the years, working tirelessly to help get us where we are, we would not be here if it wasn’t for them.”

FSU’s roster is filled with All-American talent including senior pitcher Lacy Waldrop, who has pulled off an impressive season following her record setting 2014 season when she was named the USA Softball National player of the year, was named ACC Pitcher of the year and led the NCAA with 38 wins.

“She’s a fantastic young lady, she placed the team on her back for majority of the season last year,” said Wilson. “She’s changed this program for us, she’s been the work horse on the mound that lead us to regionals and super regionals, we can’t say enough about how great she’s been for the program.

“There’s not a person on this team who works as hard as Lacy,” said Alameda. “Whether it’s on or off the field, in the classroom, or in her community she works to help everyone. She is a perfect representation of what Florida State softball is all about.”

This weekend the Seminoles will go on to their fourth Super Regional in program history and it is also their third consecutive appearance. They will face the winner of the winner of the NCAA Knoxville Regional, in hopes to return to Oklahoma City for the WCWS.

“We play every season for that reason, to win it all. No, I wouldn’t call it a failure if we didn’t make it because of how hard we worked and everything we’ve accomplished,” said Alameda. “But this is the ultimate goal and what we are working to achieve.”

“It’s been the goal since day one,” assistant coach Wilson added. “Being as young as they are, accomplishing this much is just such a wonderful thing if we got pulled out this weekend it would not be considered a bust but it’s been an amazing season and you still want to get that cherry on top and win some games at the world series.”