Florida State Softball looking for another big bounce-back performance

OKLAHOMA CITY — It might feel like it, but this isn’t the first time the Florida State softball team has faced elimination this season. It’s not even the first time in a month.

Nearly three weeks ago, in the championship round of the NCAA Tallahassee Regional, FSU lost to South Carolina, 4-0, to set up a winner-takes-all game later that day. Of course, the Seminoles were victorious in that second game, 1-0, and proceeded to sweep Georgia in the Super Regionals and then cruise through the first three games of the Women’s College World Series.

So while it’s been a little while since the Seminoles have had to come back from defeat — they’ve only had to do it three times since late March — they do have experience in this situation. And immediately after Florida State’s 5-0 loss to Oklahoma Wednesday night in the opening game of the WCWS Championship Series, the Seminoles were already reflecting upon those positive performances.

“We’ve responded well [to adversity] all season,” senior left fielder Kaley Mudge said. “So I’m excited to see tomorrow.”

She’s not the only one.

It wasn’t merely the fact that No. 3-seeded FSU lost Wednesday’s game that most bothered head coach Lonni Alameda. It was that the Seminoles didn’t play particularly well.

They didn’t take advantage of some early opportunities offensively. They made a handful of uncharacteristic defensive miscues. And they seemed to let the large pro-Oklahoma crowd cause some issues with communication, particularly in the outfield.

“We got outside ourselves a little bit today,” Alameda said. “I would like us to stay a little tighter tomorrow. And that’s the challenge that we talked about in the locker room.”

Of course, the pressure the nation’s No. 1 team — and two-time defending national champion — can put on opponents is immense. It also doesn’t help that of the 12,142 fans in attendance, at least 90 percent were supporting the Sooners.

Alameda pointed out that FSU’s outfielders aren’t used to having huge throngs of fans cheering behind them, and she said that noise led to the Seminoles missing two cut-off throws in Wednesday’s game.

The veteran head coach also thought some of the Seminoles’ hitters, particularly those who bat from the left side, were having an issue dealing with the home-plate umpiring.

“We had a little wide left side [of the strike zone] today,” Alameda said. “That’s really tough on the lefties.”

Facing Oklahoma ace Jordy Bahl, the Seminoles struck out 10 times while recording just two hits and drawing one walk.

It’s not yet known whether Bahl will pitch again Thursday — and if so, in what role — but Leonard said the Seminoles need to bring a better approach no matter who is in the circle for OU.

“I just think we need to make more adjustments sooner and stay in it, and keep fighting like Team 40 knows how to fight,” Leonard said. “And if we do that tomorrow, I’m pretty confident in us.”

The last four times Florida State has lost a game, dating back to a March 14 defeat to the Sooners, Alameda’s club has come back strong the next time out each time. The Seminoles won those four games in question by a combined margin of 26-3, with three shutouts.

Oklahoma is a different animal, however. The Sooners haven’t lost one game since mid-February, and it was the only loss of the year.

“We’re excited for the challenge,” Alameda said. “We’ve got to play our best game. That’s all we have. Back’s against the wall. … We got outside of ourselves a little bit. Let’s be better tomorrow and let the chips fall where they fall.”

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.

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