The No. 8 Florida State Seminoles lost to the No. 9 Florida Gators 4-3 on Tuesday in Gainesville, Florida. It snapped FSU's seven-game winning streak and dropped them to 43-8 overall, with the two rivals splitting the season series.
The Seminoles took an early 2-0 lead, but Florida was able to battle back and take the lead. While FSU was able to tie the game in the fifth, Florida was able to retake the lead in the bottom of the inning and did not give it up.
FSU loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning after Belle Ruggiero and Kennedy Harp singled and Shelby McKenzie walked. Hayley Griggs made it a 1-0 game with a single before Makenna Sturgis grounded into a fielder's choice, with Florida getting the out at home.
Isa Torres made it a 2-0 game with a lineout to left field, but Griggs was thrown out to end the inning trying to reach third from second.
Florida wasted no time evening the game back up, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning. FSU starter Bella Dimitrijevic walked the leadoff batter, and a double made it a 2-1 game. A groundout got her to third with one out before an infield single made it a 2-2 game.
FSU had a chance to retake the lead in the fourth when Ruggiero walked, and Harp doubled to start the inning. McKenzie struckout before Ruggiero was thrown out at home trying to score on a grounder to the third baseman. Another fielder's choice ended the inning as the Seminoles failed to get a run after having two runners in scoring position with nobody out.
Dimitrijevic's day was done after three innings, with Marllee Gaskell replacing her to start the fourth inning. Dimitrijevic allowed the two runs in 3.0 innings of work on three hits and two walks, striking out one batter.
Gaskell was immediately in trouble as she walked the leadoff batter before two infield hits loaded the bases with nobody out. She was able to limit the damage to just one run on a single before a couple of strikeouts and a fielder's choice ended the threat with Florida now leading 3-2.
It was FSU's turn to load the bases with nobody out in the top of the fifth as Torres reached on an error, Jaysoni Beachum singled, and Ashtyn Danley was hit. They were also limited to just one run, with Anna Hinde driving in Torres with a sacrifice fly and tying the game at 3-3.
Gaskell was unable to keep it tied, getting two quick outs before a two-out walk started another Florida rally before back-to-back singles gave Florida a 4-3 lead. She was once again able to keep it a one-run game as a groundout ended the fifth inning.
FSU will return to action on Friday when they head to Massachusetts to play the Boston College Eagles in a three-game series. The Seminoles can win the ACC with a sweep.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU softball loses to Florida