Game recap: FSU softball sweeps Georgia in Tallahassee Super Regional, advances to WCWS
Florida State softball played Georgia on Friday in the Tallahassee Super Regional where a win would send the Seminoles to the Women's College World Series. FSU won 4-2.
The Seminoles (55-9) and Bulldogs (42-15) finished their best-of-three-game series Friday night. The WCWS starts Thursday, June 1 and runs through June 8 or June 9. The Seminoles earned their 12th trip to the tournament in Oklahoma City; the Bulldogs were seeking their sixth.
FSU won Game 1 on Thursday 8-1 behind three hits and three RBIs from Kaley Mudge. Kathryn Sandercock gave up an early run but settled down to pitch 5⅔ solid innings in front of 2,006 fans at JoAnne Graf Field.
In the Tallahassee Regional last week, the Seminoles defeated Marist 9-0 as pitchers Mack Leonard and Makenna Reid combined for a no-hitter. FSU then took down UCF 5-1 Saturday before falling to South Carolina 4-0 in the first game of the championship Sunday. The Seminoles bounced back to beat the Gamecocks 1-0 behind a perfect game from Sandercock to advance.
Georgia swept through the Athens Regional, scoring 32 runs across three games with wins over North Carolina Central to open the tournament and back-to-back wins against Virginia Tech.
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10:40 p.m. FSU Seminoles softball advances to WCWS
No. 3 Florida State becomes the second team to clinch a spot in the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, joining No. 6 Oklahoma State.
The Seminoles completed the sweep of No. 14 Georgia with a 4-2 victory Friday to clinch the series at JoAnne Graf Field.
It will be the 12th world series appearance for FSU and the first since 2021.
Mack Leonard picked up the win for the Seminoles and Kathryn Sandercock earned the save.
Leonard delivered a season-high 4 ⅓ innings, allowing just one earned run on two hits. Sandercock worked out of a jam in the sixth inning and finished off the seventh for the save.
She retired Lyndi Rae Davis on a flyball to left field to seal the victory with two runners in scoring position.
Kaeli Harding drove in two runs for the Seminoles in the victory.
FSU will play the Cowgirls in the first game of the WCWS starting June 1. The tournament runs through June 8 (June 9, if necessary).
FSU Women’s College World Series appearances
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10:23 p.m. Seminoles three outs away
Despite a one-out double from Kaley Mudge, the Seminoles went down quietly in the top of the seventh inning.
Kathryn Sandercock returns to the circle needing three outs to send FSU to its 11th Women’s College World Series and first appearance since 2021
Mid 7th | FSU 4, UGA 2
10:18 p.m. Kathryn Sandercock is clutch for FSU softball
Kathryn Sandercock walked the first hitter she faced coming out of the bullpen in relief of Makenna Reid. She however battled back to strikeout Sydney Kuma and Sydney Chambley back-to-back to strand the game-tying run at first base.
Kuma hit a solo home run off Sandercock last night in the second inning. Sandercock got the last laugh today.
These are the moments Sandercock has shined the brightest in her brilliant five-year FSU career.
End 6th | FSU 4, UGA 2
10:05 p.m. Bulldogs fighting, Kathryn Sandercock enters
The Bulldogs pulled within two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and forced a pitching change. Dallis Goodnight reached on an error by third baseman Kaeli Harding and scored on an RBI single by Lyndi Rae Davis.
Lonni Alameda quickly went to the bullpen and replaced freshman Makenna Reid with ace Kathryn Sandercock.
It’s clear FSU wants to end this tonight
Bottom 6th inning | FSU 4, UGA 2
9:56 p.m. Hallie Wacaser increased FSU lead
Michaela Edenfield led off the sixth inning off the umpire and was pinch run for by Amaya Ross. Ross immediately stole second and scored on an RBI single by Hallie Wacaser.
It was the second hit of the game for Wacaser.
FSU needed that insurance run, as things won’t be easy to close this one out against the Bulldogs’ lineup. Down three, expect them to be more aggressive to end this one.
Mid 6th | FSU 4, UGA 1
9:44 p.m. Makenna Reid comes out firing
Freshman sensation Makenna Reid struck out Jaiden Fields and pinch hitter Lauren Burnett to end the fifth inning.
With six outs left to play and a two-run lead, it’ll be interesting to see if Kathryn Sandercock makes her final appearance at JoAnne Graf Field tonight to close out the game and send the Seminoles to the College Softball World Series
End 5th | FSU 3, UGA 1
9:38 p.m. Mack Leonard continues great start, replaced after season-high 4 ⅓ innings
FSU has gotten more than it bargained for from Mack Leonard tonight. She picked up her fourth strikeout to begin the fourth inning. That out marked the longest start of the season for Leonard. She was removed after walking Jayden Goodwin.
Makenna Reid is in to relieve Leonard.
Bottom 5 | FSU 3, UGA 1
9:32 p.m. Seminoles strand runner in scoring positon
Kaley Mudge was hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the fifth. She then stole second base before Jahni Kerr grounded out.
Kaeli Harding struck out to end the inning, leaving the third runner left on base for the Seminoles in the game.
FSU is 1-for-7 with runners on and 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position tonight.
That could be something that comes back to bite the Seminoles with the dangerous UGA lineup.
Mid 5th | FSU 3, UGA 1
9:20 p.m. Mack Leonard rolling in the circle
Mack Leonard rolled through the second inning with three ground ball outs. Leonard ran through the 3-4-5 hitters with ease to retire the side.
The final out, a long throw from third baseman Kaeli Harding, was reviewed to see if the runner beat out the throw and upheld as an out.
Leonard is through four innings with three strikeouts, allowing one earned run on two hits.
Shelby Walters got her first strikeout of the game, getting Bethaney Keen swinging to end the top of the fourth inning. Devyn Flaherty and Mack Leonard both were retired before Hallie Wacaser got a two-out single. Wacaser was left stranded.
Leonard has thrown 42 pitches (29 strikes) so far.
End 4th | FSU 3, UGA 1
9:03 p.m. Bulldogs strike back behind double from Jayden Goodwin
Jayden Goodwin led off the bottom of the third with a double to center field. Jaiden Fields moved her to third on an infield single off the glove of FSU first baseman Bethaney Keen.
Goodwin came around to score on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Dallis Goodnight.
Mack Leonard struck out Lyndi Rae Davis swinging for the second time in the game to end the threat and strand a runner on third. Leonard has three strikeouts through three innings.
End 3rd | FSU 3, UGA 1
8:51 p.m. Kaeli Harding helps FSU softball strike first
The bottom of the order set up the Seminoles for a big inning. Bethaney Keen and Josie Muffley were hit by pitches to start the inning. Kaley Mudge moved them into scoring position on a ground out.
Jahni Kerr grounded out to the pitcher but Autumn Belviy avoided a tag to score the first run. She was initially ruled out but replay showed she was safe.
Kaeli Harding then lined a two-run double to give the Seminoles a 3-0 lead.
Three up and three down for UGA in the bottom of the second. Leonard got a groundout, a popout and a flyout to end the second inning for the Bulldogs.
Mid 3rd | FSU 3, UGA 0
8:28 p.m. Seminoles go down in order in top of 2nd
FSU goes down 1-2-3 in the first inning. Mack Leonard grounded out for the second out and is 1-for-16 in the postseason the last two weeks.
The Seminoles have struggled through the first time the order throughout the Regional and Super Regional but have shown an ability to adjust and flip the script the second time through.
Let’s see if they do the same against Shelby Walters, who has a 1.59 ERA this season. All six outs have come via the ground. FSU needs to start getting the ball in the air.
8:22 p.m. Mack Leonard strikes out 2 in 1-2-3 1st
Mack Leonard gets the start for the Seminoles and came out throwing strikes. She induced a popout from leadoff hitter Dallis Goodnight and then got Lyndi Rae Davis swinging on a nasty drop ball for the second out.
Leonard then got Jayda Kearney swinging on a drop ball to end the inning.
That’s the third time FSU pitchers have struck out Kearney, who is tied for seventh in the nation with 19 home runs coming into the Super Regionals.
8:13 p.m. Scoreless first for Seminoles
Shelby Walters gets the start for Georgia and retires the first two hitters of the game with both Kaley Mudge and Jahni Kerr grounding out.
Kaeli Harding helps the team avoid a 1-2-3 inning with a two-out hit to right center. Michaela Edenfield grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the frame.
Three groundball outs for Walters, who looks sharper than she did last night.
The first pitch was at 8:05 p.m.
7:11 p.m.Starting lineups for Game 2 for FSU-Georgia
FSU is the away team for Game 2.
Seminoles
Kaley Mudge, LF
Jahni Kerr, CF
Kalei Harding, 3B
Michaela Edenfield, C
Devyn Flaherty, 2B
Mack Leonard, P
Hallie Wacaser, RF
Bethaney Keen, 1B
Bulldogs
Dallis Goodnight, CF
Lydni Rae Davis, C
Jayda Kearney, RF
Sara Mosley, 3B
Sydney Kuma, 2B
Sydney Chambley, 1B
Jaydyn Goodwin, LF
Jaiden Fields, DP
Ellie Armistead, SS
Shelby Walters, P
Where is Florida State playing in the NCAA softball tournament?
JoAnne Graf Field, Tallahassee, Florida
What time is FSU softball game?
8 p.m. Friday, May 26
What channel is FSU softball game on today?
ESPN (Channel 206 on DirecTV, Channel 140 on Dish)
How can I watch Florida State softball vs. Georgia on streaming?
ESPN+ ($9.99 per month), WatchESPN (cable subscription needed) and the ESPN app, YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial), fuboTV (7-day free trial)
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU softball defeats UGA, advances to Women's College World Series
