Florida State University Athletics
No. 7 Softball Prepares for Five Ranked Opponents in Four Days at TaxAct Clearwater Invitational
2/15/2023 9:44:00 PM | Softball
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 6 Florida State Softball Team will travel down to Clearwater, Fla., for the 2023 TaxAct Clearwater Invitational, taking on some of the nation's best programs in all of collegiate softball from Thursday to Sunday.
Team 40 will begin their stay with a late Thursday afternoon matchup against the 15th ranked Arizona Wildcats at 4 p.m. on ESPNU. The Noles have faced Arizona eight times in the past few years with a 6-2 record since 2008. The Wildcats are one of the most successful teams in college softball history with 8 national championships and 25 trips to the WCWS.
The Seminoles will then face the 4th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks for a Friday afternoon game at 1 p.m. on ESPNU. The two have only ever met on three occasions where FSU came out on top each time. Arkansas has risen up the polls on the heels of back-to-back conference championships and three Super Regional appearances in the past five seasons.
Saturday morning will see a heavyweight bout between Florida State and the 2nd ranked UCLA Bruins at 10 a.m. on ESPNU. Despite losing the first eight games of the matchup's history, the Noles have rattled off 9 of the last 12 matchups against UCLA, proving to be a strong outfit against the most successful team in college softball.
They'll end the invitational with a Sunday afternoon game against the No. 22 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at 1 p.m. on ESPN+ followed by an evening matchup with 12th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide at 5 p.m. on ESPN. FSU has only faced Louisiana twice since 2006 and have won six straight meetings against the Tide dating back to 2018.
Florida State went 4-1 in the JoAnne Graf Classic to open the season sweeping Lipscomb in two games, taking one against Longwood, and crushing Purdue.
The rain soaked weekend saw Kathryn Sandercock throw two complete games conceding just one hit in her two victories while freshman Makenna Reid was a firecracker out of the bullpen with 14 strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work. Catcher Michaela Edenfield had an outstanding opening day going 4-5 with 2 RBI doubles and a solo shot to left in the doubleheader.
The Noles then had a midweek doubleheader against Florida A&M where they forced the mercy rule in both games, 8-0 and 9-1 respectively.
The first game saw Edenfield live up to her nickname Area 51 with a 1st inning moonshot to Spirit Garage beyond left field for 3 runs and firm handle on the lead before Katie Dack added on with 2 RBI singles. Ali DuBois earned her first victory in the circle on her 3 inning start with 2 punchouts, highlighting a dominant start.
Mack Leonard pitched two innings to start the game and ended the game at the plate with an RBI double to drive in the ninth and final run to end the night. Allison Royalty came in to pitch the 3rd inning and provided 6 strikeouts on 40 pitches to take the win, her second as a Seminole.
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2023 TaxAct Clearwater Invitational Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 16
Florida State vs. Arizona (4 p.m. | Field 8 | ESPNU)
Friday, Feb. 17
Arkansas vs. Florida State (1 p.m. | Field 8 | ESPNU)
Saturday, Feb. 18
UCLA vs. Florida State (10 a.m. | Field 8 | ESPNU)
Sunday, Feb. 19
Louisiana vs. Florida State (1 p.m. | Field 8 | ESPN+)
Florida State vs. Alabama (5 p.m. | Field 8 | ESPN)
