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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The overall No. 3 seeded Florida State softball team had just four hits on the afternoon, but they were all timely as the Seminoles took down UCF 5-1 on Saturday afternoon to advance to Sunday’s regional final. The Noles will play at 4 p.m. with the opponent to be announced. The Noles have now won 18-straight games and snapped UCF’s 14 game winning streak.
It was a classic pitcher’s duel through the first two innings, but the Knights broke through in the third inning with a single to give them the early lead. After not recording a hit in the first three innings, Kaley Mudge got the offense going with an infield single to lead off the fourth inning. Mudge stole second, and Kalei Harding singled to put runners on the corners for the Noles. Mack Leonard hit a groundball to second which allowed Mudge to score to tie the game.
Kathryn Sandercock kept the momentum with the Seminoles as she recorded her fifth strikeout of the afternoon to strand runners on first and second in the bottom of the fourth to keep the game tied.
Michaela Edenfield was awarded a walk after a delay of game call on the UCF pitcher, and Amaya Ross came in to pinch run and immediately stole second. Josie Muffley then hit a ball to the shortstop, and Ross beat out the throw at third to put runners on the corners. Mudge came through and was able to put a ball in play, Ross beat a wild throw at home which then allowed Muffley to score.
Sandercock came back out and retired five of the next six batters to maintain the Noles’ two-run lead into the seventh inning. Muffley was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning then stole second. Mudge picked up her second RBI of the game after she hit a double off the wall. Jahni Kerr moved Mudge over to third on a groundout, and Kalei Harding picked up a RBI on a fielder’s choice to score Mudge to give the Noles a 5-1 lead.
The Knights loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Makenna Reid got the final out to send the Noles to the regional final.
Sandercock improved to 24-3 on the season after going 6.2 innings and striking out six while walking just one batter.
The Seminoles will play the winner of game five tomorrow at 4 p.m. and will need just one win to advance to the Super Regional.
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