Top storylines from 2023 NCAA softball regionals

Kathryn Sandercock’s perfect game leads FSU to super regionals

ACC champion Florida State has had a tremendous year in large part thanks to a strong pitching staff that is led by the likes of Kathryn Sandercock, Makenna Reid and Allison Royalty. While the Seminoles gave up just five total runs across their four regional round games, it was ultimately Sandercock who stole the show in Sunday’s winner-take-all matchup.

On the year, Sandercock is an impressive 24-3 with a 1.15 ERA, and she proved dominant yet again in FSU’s second game of the day against the South Carolina Gamecocks. With just 59 pitches, Sandercock mowed down 21 consecutive batters, striking out five while never even allowing a ball out of the infield. It resulted in a perfect game that was the first for Florida State since 2016. It was also the only perfect game the Noles have had in the NCAA tournament.

PERFECTION! 💯 @k_sandercock #RoadToWCWS x 🎥 ESPN+ / @FSU_Softballpic.twitter.com/dmUKsWuJnP

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 21, 2023

The win allowed No. 3 Florida State to advance to super regionals next weekend where the Seminoles will take on a Georgia team that looked mostly dominant this past weekend. However, Sandercock has clearly proved she is arguably the best pitcher among the final 16 teams, and she has the ability to lead the Noles to Oklahoma City.