No. 1 Florida State swept Syracuse in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader

By James Groh

Game 1

The Seminoles picked up where it left off the last time it faced the Orange on Saturday. FSU had plenty of offensive fire power and were able to silence the Orange’s bats.

The first game was cut short due to the Mercy rule. The ‘Noles had a 13-4 lead by the end of the fifth inning. Just like the first game of the weekend between these two teams, FSU plated four runs in the top of the first inning. The Seminoles would go on to score in every inning of the game.

FSU hit two of its 10 home runs in the first game. Shortstop Sammy Fernandez said that its tough to give up so many big shots.

“It’s frustrating, but it’s kind of their way to play the game…that’s just their way of playing so we expected that to happen,” she said. “it’s frustrating, but there is really nothing you can do even when the pitchers do hit their spot. Props to Florida State for being aggressive and good hitters.”

The Floridia State offense was led by third baseman Jessica Warren. She went 2-3 with four RBIs and three runs. Catcher Sydney Broderick and shortstop Cali Harrod contributed as well, each tallying three RBIs. When it came to pitching, Jessica Burroughs was in control the entire game. She pitched four innings, striking out six batters and allowing only three hits.

Only Fernandez recorded more than one hit for the Orange. Head coach Mike Bosch used three pitchers. AnnaMarie Gatti, Sydney O’Hara, and Abby Thibodeau were all employed to try to stop the Seminole offense, however the three of them totaled only four strikeouts.

Even though the outcome wasn’t what want Syracuse wanted, Bosch said that there was a lot to learn from playing the nation’s top team.

Game 2

The last game of the weekend series was a deviant to the average Syracuse was used to for the weekend.

Down by four in the bottom of the third, Syracuse tacked on five runs to take a one run lead. Pitcher Alexa Romero proceeded to strike out the next three FSU batters. Momentum seemed to be shifting the Orange’s way.

However, any momentum SU had would be quickly taken away. The Seminoles hit a two run homer in the top of the sixth. That would prove to be enough to complete the weekend series sweep of the Orange.

In the end, Bosch was proud of the way his team played and continued to attack pitches.

“I thought for seven innings they had a great mental approach to the game and really fought,” he said.

The three losses in a row drops the Orange to 19-15 (3-9 ACC). The Seminoles continue its ACC unbeaten streak, improving to 38-1 (18-0 ACC). The next game for Syracuse is a mid-week double header on Wednesday against Canisius. First pitch is at 4 p.m.