Florida State takes lead from Tennessee with home runs in second, third innings
Florida State got down early in a Women’s College World Series game against Tennessee, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long. After Zaida Puni gave the Vols a lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the first, Michaela Edenfield delivered a shot of her own to lead off the second.
After reaching a full count, Edenfield connected on a pitch and sent the ball to deep center and into the stands to tie things up. Then it was Bethaney Keen’s turn. She stepped up to the plate to lead off the third and followed Edenfield’s homer with another to give the Seminoles a 2-1 advantage.
You can view both of the home runs below.
The home run was the 13th of the season for Edenfield and her second in WCWS play. She also hit one in the FSU’s opening game against Oklahoma State on Thursday. As for Keen, the home run was her very first of the season and couldn’t have come at a better time.
Florida State ultimately hit three home runs on the day as it went on to beat Tennessee to advance to the WCWS final, where it will face Oklahoma in a best-of-three series. That will be a rematch of the 2021 final, which the Sooners won.
That in mind, Florida State will come ready for its revenge. The first game of the series is set to take place at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City and will be televised on ESPN.
Michaela Edenfield reveals her mindset on home run at-bat
Edenfield’s home run was a big turning point in the game as it was the first of five unanswered runs from FSU to close things out. Speaking postgame with ESPN, she explained her thought process as she stepped up to the plate.
“It’s as simple for me as just my processes to get my swing off and putting myself in a good position there to get my swing off I think,” she said. “It’s as simple as just getting there, right? I just wanted to make sure that we got some runs in for my pitchers.”
Edenfield ended the game 1-for-2 at the plate. Her 13 home runs on the season lead the team, and she’ll hope to continue to stay hot as the Seminoles enter the series against the Sooners in search of their second WCWS championship in program history.