FAMU Softballers Drop 1-0 NCAA Heartbreaker To FSU

Junior Kenya Pereira tossed a one-hitter in a 1-0 NCAA Regional loss to FSU.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Junior pitcher Kenya Pereira tossed a scintillating one-hitter against the No. 6 Florida State Seminoles, but it wasn’t enough as the hosts of the NCAA Tallahassee Regional escaped with a 1-0 victory over the FAMU Lady Rattlers in an opening round game, delayed over two hours due to thunderstorms, at JoAnn Graf Field.

Pereira (14-16), the 2016 MEAC Pitcher of the Year, who on Thursday was named to the Southeast All-Region Team, justified those accolades, twirling a no-hitter through five innings and into the sixth, before FSU’s Jessica Warren lined a double down the left field line for the game’s only hit.

The Kissimmee, Florida native struck out two and walked three in six innings of work.

The Seminoles (49-8), seeded No. 8 nationally, scored the game’s only run in the first inning when leadoff hitter Meagan Klaevermann reached on a throwing error by FAMU third baseman Amber Fullwood, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ellie Cooper, before coming home on a Jessica Warren’s sacrifice fly to right field.

FAMU (27-29) mounted one serious scoring threat in the top of the fifth inning, getting runners on the corners with two outs when the heavy weather moved in, resulting in a two hour and 38 minute delay.

When play resumed with Taylor Rosier and Whitney Farris, who both reached on walks on base, Tashayla Irvis struck out to end the threat.

FSU’s Jessica Burroughs (25-5) tied a personal best with 14 strikeouts against FAMU against just those two fifth inning walks in seven complete innings.

FAMU will fight to stay alive in the regional on Saturday, as they face South Florida, which dropped a 2-0 decision to South Carolina on Friday, in the 2:30 p.m. elimination game.

A FAMU win would pit them against the loser of the 12 noon FSU-South Carolina game at 5:00 p.m. Saturday.

The regional title game will be Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

All games will be televised by ESPN3, and Live Stats can be accessed via the Seminoles.comsite on the NCAA Softball Regional Page.



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