The Seminoles don't quit.
They didn't quit after losing the first game (to UCLA) in the 2018 Women's College World Series — which they won — and they didn't quit after losing to UCLA in the first game of the 2021 WCWS. Simply put, the word isn't in their vocabulary.
Oklahoma City might as well be known as North Tallahassee at this point, because Florida State's softball team has battled back to win three straight must-win games to force a winner-heads-to-the-championship semifinal showdown against Alabama.
To even get to the semifinal round, FSU won an important game against Oklahoma State and finished the Cowgirls off in style.
FSU's WCWS Double Play Against Oklahoma State
A double play sends the Seminoles to the Semifinals! ?#WCWS x @FSU_Softball pic.twitter.com/T7K3kRcfml
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) June 6, 2021
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Sydney Sherrill. Devyn Flaherty. Elizabeth Mason.
Oklahoma State's Kiley Naomi represented the tying run as Florida State clung to a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning on Saturday at Hall of Fame Stadium. FSU pitcher Kathryn Sandercock induced a ground ball and let her star fielders go to work.
Sherrill, the 2021 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, moved to her right and quickly fired to second base. That's where Flaherty's slight of hand and laser arm came into play. First baseman Elizabeth Mason reeled in the throw for the game-ending double play.
The nifty double play sent the Seminoles to a semifinal matchup against Alabama, who the 'Noles took care of in the first game to snap the Crimson Tide's 20-game win streak.
Florida State got a big home run from Anna Shelnutt to kick off the scoring against OSU. They scored two more in the third inning and another run in the seventh inning when Kaley Mudge scored on a wild pitch to pad their lead.
FSU head coach Lonni Alameda spoke about winning three-straight NCAA elimination games and being on the verge of another WCWS Finals.
"I probably go down to a little bit of culture. I think that we have really passionate love for each other as teammates. And when it comes down to it, every single person in the dugout and on the field wants to perform for [Kathryn Sandercock] and Kat wants to perform for them. The mindset in the box is passing the bat and I'm going to do what I need to do. And we struggled this year trying to figure out that identity, but the love and fight for our teammates has always been there. Now it's just starting to come out and the glue is coming together and you see that fight. It's really cool as a coach to see," she said.
Florida State has provided fans in Tallahassee with plenty of moments already in the WCWS, but this double play might be the defining one so far.
