Lady Raiders Lose Nail Biter to No. 22 Florida State 2-1

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Middle Tennessee Lady Raider softball (8-7) lost a nail biter to No. 22 Florida State (18-7) 2-1 in the first day of the FSU Invitational at Seminole Softball Complex.

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 10th inning, pitcher Jennifer Martinez walked Seminole right fielder Kimmy Carter with the bases loaded to end the game. Martinez falls to 7-2 overall.

Junior Stayc Preator started the game, and pitched 5.1 scoreless innings before Martinez was called in from the bullpen. The game remained scoreless until the top of the ninth when senior Laura Brockman hit a double to send home Martinez for a 1-0 lead.

Middle Tennessee had Florida State on the ropes in the bottom of the ninth as there was a runner on third with two outs. Pinch hitter Elisa Velasco hit a triple to tie the game at 1-1.

Middle Tennessee picked up a big win in the first game of the day when the Lady Raiders defeated Auburn (16-5) 9-3. It was the first win by the Lady Raiders over an SEC school since MT defeated Tennessee 2-1 on March 22, 2000.

Senior catcher Lindsay Azevedo started the scoring frenzy in the first when she hit her first homerun of the season, which also sent home second baseman Lisa Sherman. Her long ball was the fifth of her career and ties her for third in the Lady Raider record books at number three. Overall, Azevedo went 3-for-3 with three RBI and scored two runs.

Junior Kelly Cormier made the most of her first start in right field, for the season, as she hit 3-for-4 with one RBI. Sherman broke the record for being hit by a pitch in one game with two.

Senior hurler Martinez picked up her seventh win of the season, to one loss, and was working on her third straight shut out before Auburn blew her chance in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch hitter Paige Jones hit a three run homer after Martinez gave up back-to-back walks.

Middle Tennessee will continue pool play when the Lady Raiders will face Iowa State at 10 a.m. at Messer Field. After the completion of the game, Middle Tennessee will enter bracket play.

Friend of the Blue Raiders? Like us on Facebook and become part of the True Blue army today.