The No. 16 Florida State softball team (40-10, 18-3) accomplished its series sweep against the UNC Tar Heels (30-19, 10-14) in a 2-1 victory. With this win, FSU has won 14 consecutive games and 22 in its last 23 games.
Prior to the start of the game, FSU honored six seniors, including Allison Royalty, Kaley Mudge, Kalei Harding, Devyn Flaherty, Autumn Belviy, and Emma Wilson, in a pregame ceremony as a thanks for their contributions to the program's success.
After a quiet first two innings, in which both teams reached base but neither was able to secure a run, the Seminoles were the first to put a run on the board. Amaya Ross got things going with a single and stole second to put herself in scoring position. Ross would then reach third after Mudge flew out to left field and scored an unearned run due to an error by the left fielder.
Later in the fourth inning, Harding reached first on a single to shortstop. Isa Torres and Flaherty's groundouts advanced Harding to second and third. Harding scored from third as a throwback to the pitcher, went wild and scurried home, and got the obstruction call to give the Noles a 2-0 lead.
The Tar Heels would be close to scoring a run in the top of the fifth inning, with runners on second and third, but with two outs, Ashtyn Danley forced a groundout to get out of the inning.
Later, at the top of the sixth, the Tar Heels had the bases loaded and were on the verge of scoring, but they would be stopped thanks to Flaherty throwing the groundout to end the inning and maintain the Noles' lead.
However, despite the two stops, UNC would not relent, scoring a run in the top of the seventh, but it would not be able to tie the game after Kaley Mudge recorded a flyout to end the contest.
The Seminoles saw solid performances from the circle during the matchup. Royalty made her ninth start of the season for the Seminoles. Royalty would go on to pitch for the first 3.0 innings, not allowing a single run on 14 batters faced.
Danley would take over for Royalty in the fourth inning. Danley would stay in the circle for the next 3.2 innings, allowing only three hits and zero runs on 17 batters faced.
Wilson took over for Danley for the final 0.1 innings, completing the Seminole victory. UNC got its share of hits with 10, but the FSU pitchers stood strong and stranded 12 Tar Heel runners on base.
Florida State's next matchup will be against No. 12 Florida in a midweek home game at JoAnne Graf Field on Wednesday, May 1, at 7:00 p.m.
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