No. 14 Florida State shuts out Syracuse, 1-0

Syracuse (15-9, 4-3  Atlantic Coast) fell 1-0 to the reigning ACC softball champion, No. 14 Florida State (24-6, 4-0), in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday evening.

SU ace Alexa Romero took the circle against FSU ace Kylee Hanson. The two shared ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors in late February. Romero struck out eight batters, seven of which came in the first three innings.

Romero also walked four, including FSU outfielder Korina Rosario to start the bottom of the sixth. A few batters later, outfielder Zoe Casas flew out to center field and Rosario, who was on third, scored the lone run of the game.

Offensively, Syracuse struggled to generate hits. The Orange entered the game with four batters averaging over .300 at the plate, including Bryce Holmgren, who entered tops in the ACC with a batting average over .500. In the first game of the series against FSU, only one batter recorded any hits at all.

Sammy Fernandez had two hits. One came in the top of the third when she singled to right field. Sophomore Toni Martin, who was on base after an error, moved to third. Fernandez stole second to put runners on second and third, but Alicia Hansen flew out to center field to retire the top of the inning.

Three innings later, Fernandez recorded the only other hit the Orange had against the Seminoles. Like in the third inning, Fernandez got to second and Holmgren walked to put two runners on before the inning ended.

Syracuse will face the Seminoles again Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.