The Seminoles are moving on in the NCAA Tournament – and two Northwest Florida natives will be in the Super Regionals with them.
The Florida State softball team survived a winner-takes-all game against Auburn on May 18, winning 4-0 over the Tigers in the second game of a doubleheader after falling earlier in the day − which forced the second game.
Pace alum Shelby McKenzie and Milton native Mimi Gooden, who played for Santa Rosa Christian before transferring to Gaither High School in the Tampa area before her senior season, are both part of FSU’s squad.
Gooden’s seen limited time on the field with the Seminoles this season, and wasn’t featured at all in the Regional Tournament that FSU hosted in Tallahassee. Gooden has thrown 11 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and a 4.32 ERA in nine games this year.
McKenzie, on the other hand, continued to excel in her freshman season during the region tournament. That included two home runs – the first two of her college career – against USF on May 17 and another in the series-deciding win against Auburn.
McKenzie was utilized as the designated player against Robert Morris University to start the tournament, tallying a single and an RBI in the win. She then crushed her first collegiate home run against USF in a pinch-hitter role.
She was a pinch hitter again in the first game against Auburn before coming off the bench later in the day and crushing a no-doubt solo home run over the right-field fence on her first swing of the game.
THE FRESHMAN. OFF THE BENCH. ARE YOU KIDDING?????
ESPN#Team42 pic.twitter.com/buJCivuSXB
FSU is back in the Super Regional for the third consecutive season, still looking to make the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2023, when the Seminoles finished as runner-up.
Seminoles, seeded fifth in the whole tournament, will host Texas Tech on May 22 in the Super Regionals.
Elsewhere, LSU softball fell in its regional tournament in Baton Rouge, losing to Southeastern Louisiana in upset fashion to end the Tigers’ season.
Freshman Jayden Heavener, another Pace alum, ended her impressive season with a 13-5 record (25 appearances), totaling a team-high 152 strikeouts and a 2.75 ERA with five shutouts and a perfect game.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: FSU softball advances to Super Regionals with two Pensacola-area natives
Reporting by Ben Grieco, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
