Softball Loses 6-2 to FSU in NCAA Regional
Saturday, May 19, 2001 | Softball
A seventh-inning rally came up short, and the Florida Gator softball team's third NCAA Region 8 run came to an end Friday night as top-seeded and host Florida State came away with a 6-2 victory at the FSU Softball Complex.
FSU (56-10) out-hit UF 8-2 and will play No. 2 Seed Cal (51-15) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Both teams are undefeated in the bracket. UF finished its fifth season with a 37-28 mark.
In front of 611, the sixth-largest crowd ever at the stadium, FSU junior pitcher Leslie Malerich dominated UF's offense, which recorded 13 hits in its 8-0 (5 inning) win over UConn just five hours earlier, and tossed a no-hitter through six innings.
"We ran into a buzz saw tonight," Coach Karen Johns said. "(Malerich) was throwing so hard the first couple of innings. And, they got the key hits."
The Seminoles made 10 plate appearances and scored five runs on three hits and one error in the third. Senior starter Renise Landry (West Monroe, La./West Monroe) allowed four runs on two walks and two singles with one out. Freshman Amanda Moore (Tuscaloosa, Ala./Hillcrest) came in relief and gave up a two-run double on her first batter, first baseman Robyn Gauger.
"Unfortunately, we had to pitch to Gauger in a key situation," Johns said. "She's a great hitter."
Moore held FSU scoreless the rest of the way until the seventh. Third baseman Staci Brandon knocked in a run with a two-out double into left center.
UF's late game rally started when sophomore center fielder Amanda Judd (Cornville, Ariz./Mingus Union) reached on catcher's interference by sophomore Kimmy Carter. Sophomore second baseman Prissie Walden (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast) broke open the no-hitter with a single down the right field line. Senior catcher Emily Marino (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) scored Judd with a single down the opposite line. Sophomore designated player Bree Berger (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) plated pinch runner (for Walden) Stacy Rosen (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Piper) with a ground out to shortstop.
Malerich (24-3) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits, walked two and struck out six in a complete game. Landry (19-16) took the loss and ended her Gator career with a 53-37 mark, just eight short of the UF wins record. Landry gave up four runs on two hits and three walks and struck out two over two and a third frames. FSU scattered six hits and scored twice on Moore in four and two-thirds innings.
