FSU softball: Noles face No. 16 Michigan in Elite Invitational

No. 5 FSU softball (7-0, 0-0 ACC) will look to remain unbeaten when they take on No. 16 Michigan Saturday afternoon in the Elite Invitational Tournament.

The Noles cruised past No. 9 Texas 9-2 in Friday’s game. The Noles used 11 hits, five walks, and a home run to sink the Longhorns.

FSU pitcher Kathryn Sandercock was solid, going 6.2 innings, allowing seven hits, striking out five, and walking none with two earned runs allowed. FSU’s defense was much better than Thursday, playing an error free game. Michigan enters the game (4-3, 0-0) coming off a 6-0 win over No. 24 UCF on Friday.

Michigan batters are hitting .250 while striking out 16 percent of the time. They’ve hit one home run, 11 doubles, and one triple with an on-base percentage of .302.

Michigan isn’t a great hitting team thus far, with only two batters hitting over .300. When it comes to aggressiveness on the basepaths, they are 5 of 8 on stolen base attempts. Defensively, they’ve only committed one error all season.

Michigan pitchers are solid, allowing a .190 batting average with 75 strikeouts against 15 walks. They have allowed four home runs and no more extra-base hits.

This is a game where FSU’s offense could be the difference-maker. FSU will likely have Danielle Watson on the mound, and she’s been solid through three games with 18 strikeouts against four walks.

FSU did a great job of getting on the board early and putting pressure on Texas early. That will be key again on Saturday as Michigan has struggled offensively. The game will begin at 1 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.