No. 16 Florida State Softball defeats North Carolina via second straight run rule

Florida State softball returned home to Tallahassee, for their final ACC regular series. For the first game of the series against the North Carolina Tar Heels, Ashtyn Danley got the ball to start. Danley began with a lead off walk, and a one out walk put two runners on. The freshman faced a dangerous part of the lineup, walking the bases loaded and less than two outs.

An error from the Seminoles infield pushed across the first run, as well as keeping the bases loaded. FSU traded an out for a run, and a groundout finally ended the visiting half of the 1st, with a 2-0 UNC lead.

Facing Kenna Raye Dark for UNC, Kaley Mudge led off with a single. After the fly out, Kalei Harding reached safely on a soft hit single. With Isa Torres at bat, the freshman shortstop put the ball in play, but UNC couldn’t field it properly, allowing one run to cross home.

Torres stood on third with two outs. Another infield single not in time allowed Devyn Flaherty to reach safely, and Torres to come home to tie the game.

Flaherty was able to scoot over to second base on a passed ball. With two outs, Michaela Edenfield made her return to the FSU lineup. Reaching down on a pitch, Edenfield drove in another run to make it 3-2.

Up a run with two outs, Jahni Kerr extended the lead with a 2-run shot to left field. The two runs ended Dark’s day, bringing in Nikki Harris. Harris was able to end the 5 run inning on a fly out.

Now working with a lead, Danley came back out for the 2nd inning. Leading off, UNC started with a solo shot to get a run back. A hit by pitch added a runner with no outs against Danley. A pair of ground outs and a strike out kept the inning at one run.

In the bottom of the inning, Amaya Ross singled and stole a base against Harris. A fly out advanced Ross to third base, and a single from Jaysoni Beachum brought in the 6th run of the game.

Harris and Danley kept it 6-3 through 3.5 innings, before FSU continued in the bottom of the 4th. Katie Dack led off with a walk, and a single from Ross and Mudge loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Beachum, and ground out by Harding added two more runs for FSU. With two outs, Torres homered for her second straight game, busting the door open.

Now in run-rule territory, with a 10-3 score, Emma Wilson, after coming on in relief, made quick work of the Tar Heels in the top of the 5th. A single from Ross and Mudge in the bottom frame set the table for Beachum, who sent everyone home on a walk off 3-run homerun.

FSU took the opening game by a 13-3 score, bringing their season total to 38-10 overall.

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Saturday, April 27th, 4 pm, ESPNU