Who is FSU softball's No. 51? What to know of Michaela Edenfield, Area 51, eye makeup and more

Florida State softball has become a staple at the Women's College World Series.

Under coach Lonni Alameda, the Seminoles are always a threat to make a deep run in the NCAA Softball Tournament and play in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. FSU (43-14, 19-5 ACC) will host its 10th consecutive home regional at JoAnne Graf Field again this season, thanks in no small part to catcher Michaela Edenfield.

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While Edenfield continues to be one of the most powerful bats in the country — and a key part of the FSU lineup — she is also the key for the Seminoles in the circle. Edenfield catches the majority of the games at catcher for FSU, commanding a young pitching staff that lost star ace Kathryn Sandercock from last year's WCWS runner-up team.

Here's everything to know about Edenfield, who has been one of the best college softball hitters this season, Edenfield's eye makeup routine and more:

Who is Michaela Edenfield?

Edenfield grew up less than 50 miles away from JoAnne Graf Field, attending Sneads (Florida) High School. She finished her high school career with a .440 batting average, 101 runs scored, 32 doubles and 29 home runs. Edenfield participated in the 2019 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team selection trials. She was also a standout volleyball player, being selected as her volleyball team’s MVP in 2017.

The catcher redshirted her first year on campus in 2021 and built a relationship with the team's players, including former star ace Sandercock, as the Seminoles won their first national championship that season. Edenfield hit 16 home runs in her redshirt freshman season in 2022, three off the school record for the Seminoles.

Edenfield put together her best season this past year as a redshirt junior with career highs in batting average (.382), on-base percentage (.503), hits (47) and doubles (nine), to go along with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs.

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Michaela Edenfield injury update

Edenfield played in the ACC Softball Tournament with a wrap around her finger due to an injury she sustained near the middle of the season. The injury caused her to miss time between April 7 and April 26. In a moment of frustration during a victory over Louisville, Edenfield broke her finger in the FSU dugout.

At the time of the injury, she was hitting .398 and hitting a team-high 11 home runs. She missed nine games, but apologized to her team on social media for "letting them down."

"It is the lessons through sport that grow us as people and I promise that this is a huge growth moment for me that will be with me for life," Edenfield said in her statement. "I will be working to get back on the field as soon as possible and you all know I bleed Garnet and Gold."

What is Area 51 at JoAnne Graf Field?

Edenfield packs a lot of power ― as is obvious with her 42 career home runs in three seasons ― and wears No. 51 on the softball field. With her immense power from the right side, she hits a ton of balls over the left field wall at JoAnne Graf Field. Some of the home runs even reach the parking garage just across the street from the stadium, where fans usually sit in their cars and tailgate for games.

Due to this, beyond the left field has become known as "Area 51" by FSU fans, as Edenfield sends over "unidentified flying objects." She even has an X account (formerly Twitter) which tracks her home runs.

"All of this like 'Area 51' stuff, it's really cool. It's kind of interesting because it's making its own brand and label for myself. I would have never had this if I didn't choose to wear her number," Edenfield told Seminoles.com in an interview in 2022.

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Michaela Edenfield eye makeup

Behind Edenfield's catcher's mask — or when she's hitting — fans get a small glimpse into Edenfield's world. She wears different eye makeup ahead of every game, posting videos of her applying makeup pregame and giving fans a tutorial. She has developed a following on TikTok. She bedazzles her eyes ahead of each game with colorful and gem-studded looks, oftentimes with a message.

Edenfield told D1Sotball's Rhiannon Potkey in 2022 that she drew the inspiration for the eye makeup from the TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race.

“They just exuded this crazy amount of confidence and attitude and fierceness and I wanted that for myself,” Edenfield said. “Being bullied, I was a little down on myself and really insecure and I really wanted to have that confidence.”

Michaela Edenfield stats

Here's Michaela Edenfield's year-by-year stats at Florida State

• 2024: .382 batting average with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs

• 2023: .255 batting average with 13 home runs and 56 RBIs

• 2022: .281 batting average with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Who is Michaela Edenfield? What to know of FSU softball's No. 51