FSU softball overcomes huge deficit to beat Notre Dame in extras

FSU softball (41-8, 17-2 ACC) overcame a late four-run deficit to defeat Notre Dame 5-4 in extra innings Friday night in South Bend, Indiana.

Kathryn Sandercock dominated the Fighting Irish with a no-hitter through four innings before allowing a home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Notre Dame hit three consecutive singles and a fielding error brought in three more runs to give Notre Dame a 4-0 lead heading into the top of the sixth.

However, the Noles would not go quietly, scoring four runs to tie the game behind three singles and a Michaela Edenfield three-run home run.

Makenna Reid relieved Sandercock in the sixth and pitched the final three innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.

The Noles plated the winning run in the top of the eighth inning. Kalei Harding led off with a double and moved to third on a ground out by Mack Leonard.

Harding got caught in a rundown on a ground ball with the infield in but stayed in it long enough for Jahni Kerr to reach third base with two outs. Kerr scored on a wild pitch with Michaela Edenfield at bat.

The pitch was up in the zone, and Edenfield swung and missed, but the ball went off the catcher’s mitt, allowing Kerr to score easily.

Edenfield finished with the home run and three RBI. Kaley Mudge and Kerr went 2-4.

The FSU offense went 5-12 with two outs and 4-13 with runners on base. They had to overcome two errors in the field, but the Noles showed a lot of resilience on the road to overcome the big late inning deficit.

Sandercock and Reid combined for six strikeouts, five hits allowed, and ZERO walks. The Noles will look to clinch the series Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The game will air on the ACCNX channel.