Bethaney Keen shares importance of difficult schedule for Florida State

Bethaney Keen, a star softball player for Florida State, emphasized how important it’s been for the Seminoles to play a challenging schedule this season as they get ready to play in the Women’s College World Series.

Florida State actually played 11 games against ranked teams in its non-conference schedule, including dominant programs like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Alabama.

“Yeah, I think that was like a really test for our team, kind of what we’re made of,” Bethaney Keen said. “Coming in there in what was kind of like the beginning, middle of the season, whatnot, we learned a lot about us, kind of what we’re made of, what we need to do.”

Bethaney Keen emphasized that these games helped Florida State prepare for the postseason against dominant teams.

“I think that allowed us to really prepare ourselves kind of going on later in the season, kind of going in these moments right now. Just kind of preparing ourselves. I think, yeah, we did a really good job.”

Along with Bethaney Keen, Michaela Edenfield also pointed out that the team takes pride in this type of schedule from the top down.

“Definitely I think our coaches pride themselves on making such a great schedule for us. It’s one of those things if you want to be the best, you have to play the best,” Edenfield said. “Those are all great ball clubs. Just being able to start off our season against teams like that, it allows us to make great transitions and being able to learn more about ourselves. That way, when we get three quarters, close to the end of season, we’re really bonded and gelled. I think that’s definitely showed up today and here while we’ve been at OKC.”

Now, Florida State will take on its biggest challenge today in the Women’s College World Series finals, where the Seminoles will take on the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners enter the finals having won 51 straight games at the last two national championships.

In one prior meeting this season, Oklahoma beat Florida State 5-4. That game was played in Norman.

Jordan Travis celebrated a Florida State home run

It’s always great to see players from one program at a school support the other teams at that school. It’s especially great when a star quarterback throws his support behind a sport like softball, which is exactly what happened when Jordan Travis celebrated a home run on Twitter.

He tweeted, “Let’s goooo Noles.”

Let’s goooo Noles🔥🔥

— Jordan Travis (@jordantrav13) June 6, 2023

This came just after Hallie Wacaser hit a home run to take a 5-1 lead against Tennessee as Florida State clinched a trip to the WCWS finals.

Along with Wacaser, Bethaney Keen and Michaela Edenfield also hit home runs during the game.