Florida State beats Tennessee to advance to WCWS championship series vs. OU softball

Zaida Puni gave Tennessee exactly what it needed early in its Women’s College World Series game against Florida State.

A solo homer from the third baseman in the bottom of the first inning gave Tennessee a one-run lead, and things looked optimistic for the Volunteers.

But from then on, Florida State asserted its dominance.

The third-seeded Seminoles went on to score five unanswered runs as they rolled to a 5-1 victory Monday night at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, advancing to a rematch of the 2021 title series against two-time defending champion OU.

Florida State will face the top-seeded Sooners at 7 p.m. Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Thursday and if necessary at 7 p.m. Friday.

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“That's a really gritty win for us,” Florida State coach Lonni Alameda said. “They're a really good ballclub. Super proud of our team. We've been talking about rugged, dependable and energetic all season. It is showing up at the right time.

“I'm really proud of us, of all of us. There's so many people that contributed today. It's just really exciting to be in the championship series.”

Florida State (58-9) put together a solid performance against Tennessee and outhit the Volunteers 8-3.

Tennessee struck first as Puni provided the early spark, but it was all Florida State from there.

Michaela Edenfield hit a solo homer in the second inning, and Florida State took the lead in the third when Bethaney Keen launched a solo homer in the third.

Jahni Kerr added an RBI single in the fifth before Hallie Wacaser padded the lead with a two-run homer in the sixth.

Keen’s homer was her first at Florida State.

Keen began her college career at South Florida and has spent the last two seasons with the Seminoles,

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“My approach is kind of sticking to my plan,” she said. “The day after super regionals I was focusing on what I needed to focus on, knowing nothing else mattered before then. Just wanted to make sure whenever I get my opportunity now for these moments to be able to capitalize.

“Just wanted to get my pitch, stick to my plan, it kind of worked. I just wanted to pass the bat, give everyone else a chance to score some runs. It was a really cool moment.”

Florida State had three pitchers take the circle. Mack Leonard started and tossed the first two innings before Makenna Reid took over and tossed the next two frames.

Kathryn Sandercock sealed the victory, allowing just one hit over the last three innings.

Sandercock, a fifth-year senior who has thrived throughout the year, can’t wait to go against OU, which beat Florida State 5-4 in the regular season.

“It's just every athlete's dream to end their career in a national championship game,” Sandercock said. “I always knew that we could do it, so I'm just really, really, really proud of the team today.

“Like, I just don't think that words could even express how happy. I'm just so elated to be playing one more day and getting to put the jersey on one more time.”

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Tennessee’s season ends with a 51-10 record.

Payton Gottshall started in the circle for the Volunteers and allowed two earned runs and five hits in 3 ⅓ innings before Karlyn Pickens tossed two innings, giving up one hit and one earned run.

Ashley Rogers pitched the final 1 ⅔ frames and allowed two hits and two earned runs as she finished her college career.

Rogers, who’s from Athens, Tennessee, was emotional after the game and explained how much she appreciated being a Volunteer.

“It's been an absolute dream come true,” she said. “Like I said, it just meant so much to me.

“My father, who passed away when I was 16, was the biggest Tennessee fan. He was laid to rest in a Tennessee orange shirt and has the Power T on his headstone. I think that says the most about what Tennessee has meant to me.”

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Tennessee star senior Kiki Milloy is proud of how the Volunteers represented themselves this year.

They didn’t reach their ultimate goal, but they had a stellar season.

“It would have sucked to end the season not here with this group of girls,” Milloy said. “I love every single one of them. Playing for all the ones that came before us. We have such great alumni and the Lady Vol community, just being able to do something like this for them, made me really proud.”

Tennessee has a lot of returning talent, so the Volunteers will likely remain a team to watch.

“Yeah, we do return a lot,” Tennessee coach Karen Weekly said. “For them to have this kind of postseason experience and to feel every step of the way, every step, to feel competing for that SEC regular-season championship, and getting that deal done. Going to the tournament, competing and winning a tournament championship.

“Just being put in those situations where you have to win, and learning how to play in those situations but play free and play with joy.

“I think that's the biggest thing that I want this team to remember as we go into next year.”

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Florida State beats Tennessee to advance to WCWS finals vs OU softball