Lonni Alameda addresses multiple illegal pitches called on Makenna Reid

Florida State pitcher Makenna Reid has had a frustrating start to Monday’s Women’s College World Series game against Tennessee. After entering the game in the third inning, Reid has already been called for four illegal pitches.

Even so, Reid was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run as the Seminoles hold a 2-1 leading heading into the fourth. FSU coach Lonni Alameda stuck with Reid in the fourth, and spoke on the struggles for her freshman pitcher during an in-game interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe.

“We’ve had one illegal pitch all year, so if it’s a tactic right now that’s awesome,” Alameda said. “But so proud that as a freshman in this environment she can just relax and do her thing. It’s pretty awesome poise on her side. I think sometimes maybe she moves her back foot a little bit, but she’s been out front before and nothing’s ever been called. So it’s a consistency factor, but just keep doing what we do.”

It seems the illegal pitches had something to do with the placement of Reid’s back foot. She still managed a pair of strikeouts in the third and got through the fourth clean with three outs to help the Seminoles hold on to the lead.

It remains to be seen whether Reid will finish out the game, but if not, Alameda is confident in the players she has in her bullpen to close.

“We have our whole bullpen ready to go,” she said. “I think if we can get a couple more runs and (Kathryn Sandercock) can be ready to go to finish out this. We know this is gonna be a dogfight. They’re a great team, so a lot of fun.”

If Florida State is able to beat Tennessee, it would advance to the WCWS final to face Oklahoma in a best-of-three series. If the Vols can manage a win, the teams will face each other again this evening with the winner moving on to play the Sooners.

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