FSU softball (27-4, 5-0 ACC) is riding a 16-game winning streak and looking for its second consecutive ACC series sweep on Sunday afternoon against California. The Noles have some legitimate superstar players, none more popular than Isa Torres, who is currently the best hitter in college softball.
FSU coaches knew they would have freshmen playing major roles this year, and several have made significant impacts. However, one freshman who seems to fly under the radar is Makenna Sturgis. Â
The utility player who’s been in left field for the most part is having an outstanding freshman season. She has played in 30 of 31 games with 27 starts. She’s batting .400 (second on the team), with eight doubles, three home runs, and 21 RBI. Her on-base percentage is .413, and she’s only struck out ONCE all season, which is the best on the team.
Props to Makenna Sturgis on her success as a freshman this year
She hasn’t committed an error and is 3-3 in stolen bases. Sturgis was on the D1Softball and Softball America Freshmen To Watch Lists in the preseason.
Other freshmen like Marin Heller, Anna Hinde , and Bella Dimitrijevic seemed to get the shine early in their freshman year. However, it's Sturgis who's been the most consistent overall.
Sturgis has played well against some of the better teams on the schedule. She went 4-5 in two games against Alabama. She also went 1-3 against Tennessee and has had a fine start to ACC play over the last two weeks. I hope I didn't jinx her, but it's worth noting that she's having an excellent freshman campaign thus far, and could be a big piece to the future of FSU softball.