No. 7 Noles Hang On to Defeat No. 15 Arizona 6-4

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The No. 7 Florida State softball team (7-1) jumped out to a 6-0 lead and hung on to defeat No. 15 Arizona (5-1) 6-4 in their first game of the 2023 TaxAct Clearwater Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.

After a scoreless first inning, the Noles loaded the bases thanks to an error and a couple of singles. Kaley Mudge drove a ball into right field that was mishandled allowing Mudge to advance to third and bringing three runs across the plate.

In the third inning, the bats stayed hot in the third inning as a Devyn Flaherty double and a Katie Dack single brought two more runs across for the Noles.

The Noles added one more run in the fourth inning as Mack Leonard singled and a throwing error allowed Mudge to score to extend the lead to 6-0.

The Wildcats responded in the bottom of the fourth inning with four runs of their own, but Kathryn Sanderccock and Makenna Reid shut the door for the final three innings.

Sandercock was credited with the win after going 4.2 innings and striking out eight batters, two strikeouts off her career high. Reid came in the top of the seventh inning and recorded groundout, a strikeout and a flyout to give the Noles the win.

Kalei Harding and Leonard each recorded two hits for the Noles while Mudge had a team-high two RBIs for the Noles.

Florida State will return to action tomorrow against No. 4 Arkansas at 1 p.m. on ESPNU.

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