FSU softball: Sandercock shuts down Oklahoma St. in WCWS opener

FSU softball (56-9) got sweet revenge against Oklahoma State (46-15) in the WCWS opening game with an 8-0 run-rule victory (six innings) early Friday morning.

The win was the first time FSU softball won their opening WCWS game and avenged two previous losses to the Cowgirls earlier this season.

Kathryn Sandercock went five scoreless innings, with four strikeouts and two walks, allowing only four hits. Coach Lonni Alameda’s strategy to save Sandercock’s arm by using multiple pitchers throughout the season paid dividends. Sandercock consistently touched 70 mph and had pinpoint control most of the night.

I said in the game preview FSU needed to show patience at the plate because Oklahoma State pitchers would issue walks. They issued five walks and allowed seven hits.

The Noles put a lot of pressure on Oklahoma State early when Michaela Edenfield took the first pitch she saw for a ride deep into the night for a two-run home run. Kalei Harding worked a two-out walk from an 0-2 count before that, which was big, and put the Noles up 2-0 in the first inning.

A lengthy lightning delay in the top of the third inning brought shades of a few years ago with FSU playing into the wee hours of the morning, but they picked up where they left off. The Noles scored another run across in the bottom of the third when Jahni Kerr scored on an Oklahoma State error to make it 3-0.

However, it was the bottom of the fourth inning that blew the game open. Mack Leonard led off with a single, followed by a walk. Katie Dack ground out to move the runners to second and third base.

Josie Muffley sacrificed into a fielder’s choice that scored a run, and Kaley Mudge hit a home run to clear the bases and make it 7-0.

Mack Leonard sat the Cowgirls down in order in the top of the sixth, and the Noles brought across the eighth run in the bottom of the sixth to end the game. Mudge finished the game 2-4 with three RBI.

Edenfield finished 1-3 with two RBI, and Mack Leonard, Bethaney Keen, and Jahni Kerr had hits. FSU softball moves into the winner’s bracket and will take on the winner of Friday afternoon’s game between Washington and Utah on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.