Florida State beats Nebraska

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida State softball team (7-3) posted its third win of the season against a ranked team with a 3-2 victory against No. 20 Nebraska (4-6) on Sunday afternoon at JoAnne Graf Field. The Seminoles defeated the Huskers on Feb. 13 by a score of 4-1, and also took down No. 6 Kentucky 3-2 on Feb. 7.

“Sunday games can often be difficult because of the physical and emotional toll of the tournament weekend, but I was glad with how we came through in big situations and got the win,” coach Lonni Alameda said.

Nebraska got on the board right away as Kiki Stokes led off the game with a solo home run to center field off Seminole starter Jessica Burroughs.

Alex Powers gave the Noles the lead in the bottom of the first on a three-run home run to center field. It was her third home run of the season and scored Maddie O’Brien and Bailey Schinella, who started the inning with walks.

Lacey Waldrop came in to relieve Burroughs to start the Nebraska third inning. Burroughs finished with 2.0 innings pitched, allowing just two hits, one run with two walks and one strikeout.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when Nebraska cut the lead to 3-2. NU’s Stephanie Pasquale led off the inning with a single and was pinch run for by Gina Metzler. Metzler moved up to third following a walk and a fielder’s choice and would come into score on a wild pitch by Waldrop.

Nebraska continued to threaten in the sixth, loading the bases with one out on two more walks from Waldrop. Schinella took over in the circle for FSU and induced an infield fly to third by Stokes and recorded a strikeout to Alicia Armstrong to get out of the jam.

Schinella pitched a perfect seventh to secure the victory for Florida State and earn her first save of the season. It was her fifth career save, moving her into a tie for sixth place with Lacey Waldrop on the FSU all-time list.

Waldrop (5-2) earned the win in relief, throwing 3.1 innings with four hits, one run, three walks and six strikeouts.

Nebraska starter Kaylan Jablonski took the loss and went to 0-2 on the season. She finished with 5.0 innings pitched with three hits, three runs and five walks with one strikeout.