FSU softball: Noles defeat No. 3 UCLA with walk-off in extra innings

FSU softball (10-0, 0-0 ACC) defeated No. 3 UCLA 4-3 in a walk-off fashion in eight innings. International rules allow a team to begin the inning with a runner on second base in extra innings.

Kathryn Sandercock got out of the top of the eighth inning without allowing a run, which set up the ‘Noles walk-off win. Jahni Kerr was the runner on second base to begin the inning.

Mack Leonard flew out to the left fielder for the first out.

However, Kalei Harding hit a line drive into the left-field gap to score Kerr for the winning run.

The game had a College World Series feel to it and a great atmosphere with some nail-biting moments.

Danielle Watson started the game and went 4.2 innings before Sandercock relieved her. Watson finished the game with five strikeouts, one walk, and one earned run allowed. Sandercock allowed one hit, four strikeouts, and one walk. FSU hitters had five hits and four walks.

UCLA got on the board first due to an outfield error by Jahni Kerr. The Bruins scored two in the top of the second inning, but Michaela Edenfield hit a moon-home run in the bottom of the second to cut the lead in half.

The Noles retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Edenfield leadoff with a walk, and Devyn Flaherty doubled down the rightfield line. Bethany Keen delivered a single to leftfield to score both runners.

UCLA tied the game 3-3 with a solo home run in the top of the fifth, and the game became a pitcher’s duel before the Noles walked it off in the eighth. The game should have never gone to extra innings without the first error in the second inning by Kerr.

However, she made up for it with a couple of nice plays in the outfield, including tracking down a ball in the gap to end the top of the eighth inning. The win was FSU’s fifth straight win over a ranked opponent.

They’ll return to action Wednesday hosting Florida A&M at 6 p.m. ET. The game will air on the ACCNX channel.