TALLAHASSEE, Florida. – The No. 3-seeded Florida State softball team (55-9) clinched their ticket to the Women’s College World Series with a 4-2 victory over No. 14 seed Georgia (42-15) at the Seminole Softball Complex. It’s the Seminoles’ first regional super-series win at home since the 2018 Women’s University World Championship team.
FSU started their work in the third with two straight pitches to start the inning before a grounded player moved Autumn Belviy and Josie Muffley into scoring position. Jahni Kerr stepped up the chance to bring the first points of the game and did it with a shot at Georgia shortstop who opted to throw home, but Belviy just beat the tag by the slimmest margins and the Noles were in business. .
Kalei Harding was next at bat and continued her strong playoff performance with a beautifully hit RBI double on the left to tag Muffley and Kerr for a 3-0 advantage after three. She finished the night with two hits and currently leads the team in the playoffs with 12 hits.
Georgia was able to respond late in the third with a groundout at first to allow the runner from third to score his first run. Noles’ next run came in the sixth when Hallie Wacaser crushed a right liner for an RBI single to send Amaya Ross home and restore the three-run lead.
The Bulldogs turned up the heat in the sixth with an RBI single to cut the lead to two before Kathryn Sandercock came on as relief. She closed the inning with a walk, a pop-up and two strikeouts to get the crowd roaring.
In the bottom of the seventh with the winning run for Georgia at home plate, Sandercock forced a steal off Kaley Mudge to pick up the win and place in the 2023 Women’s College World Series.
In their last appearances in Tallahassee, Mack Leonard and Kathryn Sandercock retired with powerful performances in the circle.
Leonard had one of his most dominant performances in the circle with his best FSU 4.1 innings, struck out the first six batters to start the game, allowed just one extra hit throughout his 50 pitches and earned his fifth career win as a Seminole.
Sandercock came on as relief for Florida State’s 180th appearance, now the all-time leader in pitching appearances in program history, and provided clutch pitches in tight situations and made his ninth save of the season.
The Seminoles will now pack their bags and head to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series and take on No. 6 seed Oklahoma State on Thursday, June 1.
For updates and exclusive content, follow the Noles on Twitter (FSU_Softball), Instagram (fsusoftball) and Facebook (Florida State Seminoles Softball).
