FSU softball erupts for 12 runs in fifth inning, takes down rival Florida again in Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 16th-ranked Florida State softball team (37-10) run-ruled 12th-ranked Florida (37-11) 12-2 in five innings on Wednesday night in front of packed Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Seminoles used a 12-run fifth inning to defeat their in-state rivals for a sixth straight game in the series and third straight in Gainesville.
FSU has now won 11 consecutive games and are winners in 19 out of the last 20.
The Gators hit a double off the center field wall and hit a solo shot to score the game's first two runs of the evening. Florida State came into the fifth inning with one hit on the night and only three batters making it base up to that point.
The inning began with a single up the middle from Hallie Wacaser to put the Noles on base before Katie Dack strung a laser into right field to allow pinch runner Annie Potter to clear all three bases to put the Noles back within one.
Amaya Ross' liner into right was dropped in right field to put the tying run 60 feet away.
A wild pitch ensued to tie the game up before an intentional walk to Jaysoni Beachum allowed Kalei Harding to rock the first pitch she saw into left to and take the lead at 3-2.
Florida made a pitching change, and Isa Torres worked the new pitcher to a full count before unleashing a behemoth three-run homer over center field to blow the game open with no outs in the inning.
The Seminoles added onto their three run lead with a fielder's choice and two singles by Ross and Kaley Mudge. Beachum had homered in four of her last five games and added onto the feat by scorching the first pitch over left field and capped off an incredible 12-run inning, the most runs FSU has scored in one inning all season.
Mimi Gooden made her third career start in the circle and completed one of her best outings in hostile territory. The freshman pitched 3.0 innings and conceded just one extra base hit in her fourth win of the season.
Florida State will host North Carolina for Senior Weekend with first pitch set for 6 p.m. on Friday and available to stream on ACC Network Extra.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU softball relies on big inning to run-rule rival Florida