FSU softball: Jahni Kerr home run lifts Noles over North Florida

FSU softball (10-3) didn’t play its best game, but a late home run by Jahni Kerr broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Noles a 4-3 lead and eventual win.

Madi Balk got her first career start and went two innings, allowing two walks, no hits, and one strikeout. She threw strikes on 20 of 33 pitches.

Kathryn Sandercock relieved her and went 3.1 innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, and four strikeouts. Makenna Reid finished the final 1.2 innings, allowing two hits, zero runs, and three strikeouts. The pitching was fine, but it was the defense (two errors) and lack of offense that made the game much closer than it should have been.

FSU batters only went 6 for 23 with four walks and left four runners on base. They only struck out twice, but could not find many holes in the defense.

They got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth on a Katie Dack solo home run. North Florida answered with a run in the top of the fifth, but FSU softball answered with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth.

However, North Florida answered to tie the game 3-3 in the top of the sixth that set the stage for Jahni Kerr’s heroics. Kayla Mudge and Mack Leonard each had a double and an RBI. Devyn Flaherty had a hit and a stolen base but left the bases loaded in one at-bat.

Michaela Edenfield continues to struggle, going 0-2 with a strikeout and a walk. Kalei Harding went 0-2 with a walk. It’s early in the season, but this team isn’t operating at optimal levels consistently, especially defensively and offensively.

The Noles will play in the Unconquered Invitational Thursday evening, playing five games between then and Saturday.

Hopefully, they can begin to figure some things out in those two areas. FSU softball will host Florida Gulf Coast Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. The game will air on the ACCNX channel.