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The Terrific Ten has you covered on all the best highlights from all the action across college softball on Friday!
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1. Death, taxes, and Florida comebacks against Texas A&M
Texas A&M has dominated Florida on more occasions than most teams over the past several years. Unfortunately for the Aggies, they’ve also had more heartbreak than anyone at the hands of the Gators. More heartbreak was in store on Friday night – after holding a slim 2-0 lead over Florida, the Aggies entered the seventh now holding just a one-run lead. The Gators rallied in the seventh, including a Hannah Adams bunt single that loaded the bases and a 2-RBI single by Skylar Wallace that gave Florida a 3-2 lead that would ultimately be the final score.
Whether in the regular season or the postseason, these two teams have had remarkably-close competitions regularly over the last several years. They’ve still got two more to play this weekend. Also notable: Makinzy Herzog was in the batting order for A&M, but did not see any action in the circle. She last threw a pitch on March 4th.
2. A pitcher’s duel and an instant classic in the Sun Belt
Some Sun Belt softball was rained out on Friday, but thankfully for softball fans, Texas State and South Alabama played in Mobile. The game was a battle of aces – Jessica Mullins for Texas State, Olivia Lackie for South Alabama – and it went into the books as an instant classic. South Alabama emerged victorious, scoring once in the seventh and once in the eighth to register the 2-1 win, but both pitchers deserved awards for their performances.
Mullins went seven innings in the circle, gave up six hits and two runs while striking out 13 batters. Lackie, for her part in the win, went eight innings complete, allowing three hits and one run with 18 strikeouts.
A bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the hosting Jaguars a unique walk-off win.
3. Upsets and almost-upsets in the PAC-12
Cal held a late lead on Washington but the Huskies scored a run in the fifth inning and three runs in the sixth to squeak out a series-opening win in Berkeley. A home run by Jadelyn Allchin gave the Huskies the lead and they would not relinquish it. Makena Smith homered for Cal early in the game, and Washington actually limited Gabbie Plain to four innings of work, during which she gave up five hits and two runs while striking out four before giving way to Pat Moore in relief, who earned the win.
Down in Salt Lake City, Utah scored in four separate innings to take down Oregon in their PAC-12 opener. The Utes assembled five runs on seven hits and limited the Ducks’ powerful offense to just two runs, including an Ariel Carlson home run, en route to the win. Shi Smith posted a compete game in the circle for the Utes, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out six and issuing no free passes.
4. Miranda Elish hitting her stride
It may have taken her a minute, but Miranda Elish finally seems to be getting comfortable as a Cowgirl. On Friday, she threw her second no-hitter in as many weeks, this one against a Wichita State offense full of weapons. Elish collected just three strikeouts against the Shockers, but she dominated the Wichita offense, with just two balls leaving the infield on the day. Only one Shocker baserunner reached third base in the game, Addison Barnard who took both second and third on a pair of wild pitches.
Now 6-4 on the year, Elish owns a 2.51 ERA, has collected 69 strikeouts, and opponents are batting just .221 against her.
5. Kelsey Brown – home run hitter?
Known for her lightning-fast speed and almost-assured base stealing efforts anytime that she reaches first base, Virginia Tech’s Kelsey Brown isn’t generally seen as the biggest power threat in the Hokie batting order. On Friday, Brown put her power-hitting on display, knocking a grand slam that was part of yet another Virginia Tech offensive explosion and a 10-0 Hokie victory. Brown was 3-3 in the game, finishing a double shy of hitting for the cycle and collecting four RBIs.