University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Florida State Cruises Past No. 15 Iowa, 4-1
May 19, 2000
Box Score
LOS ANGELES - Florida State's Leslie Malerich earned her 34th victory of the season as the No. 24 Lady Seminoles topped No. 15 Iowa, 4-1, in NCAA regional action at Easton Stadium on the campus of UCLA. With the victory, FSU improved to 50-25 while the Hawkeyes fell to 45-14. Leadoff hitter senior Staci Brandon got things started early for the Tribe with a solid base hit to right field in the first inning. After being sacrificed to second by Serita Brooks, Brandon scored on a double to center field by Thursday's game hero Kimmy Carter. Iowa pitcher Kristi Hanks, the Big Ten Player of the Year, settled down with two straight strike outs to retire the side.
The Hawkeyes tied the game with an unearned run in the third-an inning that saw some unusual plays. With one out and one on, Iowa's Katie Boney bunted up and FSU's Becky Brock couldn't get to it and the ball fell for an infield hit to put runners on first and second. Pinch-hitter Megan Atkins hit a fly ball to short center and Brooks called off FSU second baseman Brandi Stuart, but she didn't get to it and the ball fell. Brooks recovered for a force out at second to shortstop Natalie Bennett. In an attempt to throw out the runner heading to third, Bennett's toss rolled into the dugout for an automatic ground rule double, scoring the run.
Florida State had hits in each of the first four innings, but stranded five runners. With some help from the Iowa defense, the Tribe took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. Brandon led off with a double down the right field baseline and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brooks. Carter struckout swinging, but the pitch was wild and got away from Hawkeye catcher Jessica Bashor. Once Bashor retrieved the ball, she threw to third to keep Brandon in check and the toss went over the third baseman's head, scoring the run and putting Carter at second base. Carter went to third on a ground out by Stuart, but was left when Teresa Edenfield struck out swinging.
FSU picked up a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Becky Wallace drew a walk and scored on Andi Lyons' first triple of the year - a three-base shot to left field. Brooks drove in Lyons with an infield hit back to the pitcher. In the Iowa seventh, Hanks led off with a double and later advanced to third, but was left stranded.
Malerich earned the complete game victory, giving up five hits while striking out five. She improved to 34-14. The Seminoles recorded eight hits as Brandon, Brooks and Lyons recorded two apiece. Iowa's Hanks fell to 21-8 with the loss.
The Lady Seminoles will face the Bruins of UCLA, ranked third nationally and 41-10-1, who eliminated Long Beach State with a 10-4 victory, at 1 p.m. (EST) on Friday.
"I am proud of how the team stepped up today to beat a very good Iowa team," FSU Head Coach Dr. JoAnne Graf said. "We are really playing solid team ball right now and we are pleased to be in the winner's bracket. UCLA will be a great challenge for our team and we are looking forward to the game tomorrow."