Florida State dominates North Carolina in series finale, igniting offense with six-run inning and clinching a crucial ACC sweep.
The No. 12 Florida State softball team defeated North Carolina 10-2 in Game 3 of the Seminoles' home series at Jo Anne Graf Field. The win secured the sweep for FSU.
The Noles (39-7, 15-3 ACC) were riding a 25-game win streak and had been undefeated in ACC play prior to their last series against Stanford. This win against UNC (31-14, 9-12), helps get FSU on track for more favorable seeding as ACC Tournament play begins Wednesday, May 6 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Sunday's game was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the fourth inning when the Noles had an offensive explosion. The inning saw redshirt freshman Bella Ruggiero and junior Kennedy Harp each single, and then advance to second and third base off freshman Marin Heller’s sacrifice bunt. The two eventually scored when freshman Hayley Griggs hit a single to right field. Junior Ashtyn Danley hit a three-run homer, scoring Isa Torres (walk) and junior Jaysoni Beachum (single). The Noles ended the inning scoring six runs and were up 7-1 after four innings.
North Carolina responded in the top of the fifth as Emily LeGette hit a solo shot, shrinking the Seminole lead to 7-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Tar Heels walked Beachum with the bases loaded, scoring junior Angelee Bueno. Danley then hit a double, scoring both Griggs and Torres. The three runs put the Noles up 10-2, thus ending the game via the run rule.
Torres continues to impress as the junior All American went 2-for-2 in Game 3 and has 24 games in which she has collected multiple hits this year. The former Sports Illustrated National Player of the Week leads the nation with a .589 batting average.
Carolina saw its ACC-leading home-run hitter, LeGette, hit over the fences in back-to-back games to increase her lead to 24 on the season. The Tar Heels have now tied their program record for home runs at 92.
On Tuesday, the Seminoles will host archrival Florida for a single-game matchup set for 6 p.m. ET. The No. 7 Gators are 43-6 overall (16-5 in SEC play), and 11-2 on the road.
This will be the final home game of the regular season for FSU.
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