The FSU softball team has apparently shed its tolerance for close games with FAMU.
Pushed to the brink in a recent 2-1 win on FAMU’s home field, the Seminoles swept the Rattlerettes at home in convincing fashion. After a 6-0 win in the opener, FSU pounded FAMU 18-3 in the nightcap, prompting an extended after-game Rattlerettes’ team meeting in the right field grass.
A frustrated Ruby Nugent said there were “problems on the inside” aired out during the conference. The freshman catcher added she hoped this would be the talk which brought the team together.
“I’m a freshman and I’ve got three more years of this,” Nugent said. “I came from a ballclub that wasn’t like this.”
FAMU Coach Veronica Wiggins acknowledged there were some divisions within the team being addressed in the 45 minute gripe session. Wiggins insisted, however, that the blowout losses contributed to the heated discussion afterwards.
“Did I imagine this? No. It was obvious they didn’t come to play today,” Wiggins said.
In sweeping the season series against FAMU and improving its overall record to 34-13, FSU also broke a 15-year-old record for runs scored in a game.
Left fielder Shundra Colzie got the Seminoles going in the first inning of game two, lining a triple over Ashley Mitchell’s head to the center field wall. Winning pitcher Jessica van der Linden followed with a squeeze bunt toward the third base line. Nugent pounced on the ball, but failed to tag Colzie racing down the line.
After Brandi Stuart chopped an infield hit to short and stole second, Kimmy Carter laced a two-run single to right.
Stuart scored later on Beth Wade’s single down the left field line, staking FSU to an early 4-0 lead.
Up 7-0 entering the bottom of the third, FSU poured it on.
With two outs and Becky Brock and van der Linden on, Stuart hit a wind-blown three-homer over the right field fence. Five hits, three walks, two wild pitches and a passed ball later, FAMU trailed 17-0.
Pulled after the third inning, van der Linden racked up her 11th win of the year, adding two RBIs to her cause. The lefthander said the Seminoles had an extra motivation Saturday.
“We were told if we played good today, we’d get Monday off,” van der Linden said.
FAMU scored its first run of the doubleheader in the top of the fourth. Javetta Dryer walked and moved to second on Nugent’s single. Nicole Campbell and Monique Mattingly subsequently walked, forcing home Dryer.
Nugent paced FAMU with two hits and two RBIs.
The Rattlerettes tallied only one hit in the opener. FSU ace Leslie Malerich notched her 20th win, allowing Ashley Mitchell’s infield single in the third inning and no walks.
Casey Hunter relieved Malerich and struck out four FAMU batters over the last three innings.
Shortstop Tatiana George drove in three runs for the Seminoles. Stuart, and Carter pitched in with RBI hits.
Tiya Hines started on the mound for FAMU and took the loss, falling to 0-5. Hines gave up four runs on three hits before Tenyse Tasby came on in relief. Tasby pitched the final four innings.
FSU now leads the all-time series between the two squads 68-5.