OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The third-seeded Florida State softball team (56-9) began its Women’s College World Series with a splash in an 8-0 run-rule victory over sixth-seeded Oklahoma State (46-15) at OGE Energy Field. The win not only marks the Seminoles’ largest margin of victory in the WCWS but also their first opening round win since 2002 and third in program history.
After lightning in the area delayed the game’s start for more than an hour, FSU’s postseason hitting leader Kalei Harding worked the count full and earned a two-out walk in the bottom of the first. In stepped Michaela Edenfield, who made her first World Series at-bat a memorable one as she fired the first pitch she saw with an exit velocity of 80 mph into the outfield stands for the game’s first runs. Edenfield became the sole team leader in home runs with her 12th of the season.
Another lengthy weather delay ensued in the top of the third and the game resumed nearly two hours later with FSU’s bats still hot. Harding was once again in the mix as she scorched a double into left center to put herself and Jahni Kerr in scoring position. An error by Oklahoma State’s first baseman allowed Devyn Flaherty to reach first and Kerr to score safely for a 3-0 lead.
The offense kept humming in the fourth beginning with a Mack Leonard single up the middle followed by a Hallie Wacaser walk. After a groundout moved the runners to scoring position, Josie Muffley laid down a squeeze bunt and pinch runner Autumn Belviy came sliding into home for the fourth run.
In the next at-bat, Kaley Mudge sent the first pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run. The Winter Springs native, who holds the record for most hits in a single WCWS with her 14 from 2021, hit her fifth home run of the season and first career homer in the WCWS.
The Noles were up 7-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning and reached the run-rule count when Kerr beat out a ground ball hit to a diving second baseman, allowing Amaya Ross to score easily from third to secure the run-rule victory.
In the circle, Kathryn Sandercock once again made her mark on the biggest stage in her fifth WCWS start, highlighted by an emphatic first inning where she sent two batters down swinging. She finished the night with four punchouts and no extra base hits allowed on 88 pitches in 5.0 innings pitched, taking her 27th win of the season and 20th consecutive win. Sandercock is the first FSU pitcher to win 20 straight decisions since Meghan King won 22 straight decisions from April 28, 2018-March 6, 2019. Mack Leonard came in relief for the sixth inning and dispatched the three batters she faced.
The Seminoles advance in the winner’s bracket and will face the winner of Friday afternoon’s game between Washington and Utah on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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