Softball Drops Heartbreaker at No. 9 Florida State, 5-4

Saturday, April 9

Tallahassee, Fla. (JoAnne Graf Field)

5:30 P.M.

NC State

17-23, 3-8

#9/8 Florida State

30-4, 9-1

NC State

Florida State

Photo by: Greg Mintel

Softball Drops Heartbreaker at No. 9 Florida State, 5-4

4/9/2016 9:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Junior Molly Hutchison crushes her seventh home run of the year

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The NC State softball team rallied from an early four-run deficit against ninth-ranked Florida State Saturday evening at JoAnne Graf Field, but fell late in the contest, as the Seminoles plated a run in the bottom of the seventh to win, 5-4.

The Seminoles improve to 30-4 and 9-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), while the Wolfpack falls to 17-23 and 3-8 in league play.

The Rundown
- The ACC's top scoring offense started fast in the contest, as Florida State plated four runs in the bottom of the first to grab a 4-0 lead.
- Alex Powers singled through the right side to score the runner from third base and a fielder's choice pushed the second run across to make it 2-0.
- Seminole catcher Sydney Broderick doubled her team's lead with a two-run homer to center field, as Florida State extended its advantage to 4-0.
- Both teams starting pitchers settled in nicely from there, as the Wolfpack and Seminoles were held scoreless in the next three innings.
- NC State answered in the fifth after a three-run homer by Molly Hutchison to cut the deficit to 4-3.
- Alyssa Compton led off the frame with a single through the right side and Macauley Prickett reached on an error prior to Hutchison's seventh round-tripper of the season.
- In the sixth, Hanna Sommer opened the inning with a single to left field and Molly Martin entered to pinch-run.
- A sacrifice bunt moved Martin to second base and she scored on a single by Compton to knot the score at four.
- The Wolfpack looked to take the lead in the top of the seventh after a single to center field by Meredith Burroughs, but the baserunner was thrown out trying to score from second base on a perfect throw by FSU's Morgan Klaeveman.
- After a single and a hit-by-pitch started the Seminole seventh, Zoe Casas singled to left center to plate the runner from second base and give No. 9 Florida State a 5-4 victory.

Quick Hits
- Compton led the Wolfpack at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance and an RBI, while Ross also had two hits in the contest.
- Burroughs, Hawkins, Hutchison and Sommer each had one hit in the game for NC State.
- For Florida State, Broderick paced the team offensively with a 2-for-4 outing, headlined by a two-run home run.

In the Circle
- Courtney Mirabella went the distance for the Wolfpack in the circle to record her 13^th complete game of the season. She struck out three batters and allowed five runs on eight hits.
- Jessica Burroughs started on the mound for Florida State and pitched the first six innings before handing the ball to Meghan King, who earned the win in an inning of relief.

On Deck
NC State returns to the field Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. for game three of the series at Florida State. The contest will also be broadcast live on ESPNU.