Who is the FSU catcher? What to know about Michaela Edenfield, eye makeup, Area 51 and more
Florida State softball is no stranger to the ACC championship game and the Women's College World Series.
Under coach Lonni Alameda, the Seminoles make regular work of winning the conference tournament. FSU (46-8) made the final for the 27th time in 2025 and face Clemson (43-12) looking for its 20th ACC title. A lot of that is thanks to catcher Michaela Edenfield.
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The redshirt senior continues to be one of the most powerful bats in the country — and a key part of the FSU lineup — and her home run in the ACC semifinal vs. Duke proved to be the difference. Edenfield is also the key for the Seminoles pitchers as she has started every game this season and catches the majority of the games for FSU.
ACC softball championship: Latest updates, highlights from Florida State vs Clemson
Here's everything to know about Edenfield, her eye makeup routine and more:
Who is Michaela Edenfield?
Edenfield grew up less than 50 miles away from JoAnne Graf Field, attending Sneads (Florida) High School. She finished her high school career with a .440 batting average, 101 runs scored, 32 doubles and 29 home runs. Edenfield participated in the 2019 USA Softball Junior Women's National Team selection trials. She was also a standout volleyball player, being selected as her volleyball team's MVP in 2017.
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The catcher redshirted her first year on campus in 2021 and built a relationship with the team's players, including former star ace Sandercock, as the Seminoles won their first national championship that season. Edenfield hit 16 home runs in her redshirt freshman season in 2022, three off the school record for the Seminoles.
Edenfield put together her best season as a redshirt junior in 2024 with career highs in batting average (.381), on-base percentage (.509), hits (51) and home runs (15) to go along with 46 RBIs. She's been just as good in 2025, hitting .333 with a .500 OBP, 45 hits and a career-best 13 doubles with nine homers and 47 RBIs.
What is Area 51 at JoAnne Graf Field?
Edenfield packs a lot of power ― as is obvious with her 42 career home runs in three seasons ― and wears No. 51 on the softball field. With her immense power from the right side, she hits a ton of balls over the left field wall at JoAnne Graf Field. Some of the home runs even reach the parking garage just across the street from the stadium, where fans usually sit in their cars and tailgate for games.
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Due to this, beyond the left field has become known as "Area 51" by FSU fans, as Edenfield sends over "unidentified flying objects." She even has an X account (formerly Twitter) which tracks her home runs.
"All of this like 'Area 51' stuff, it's really cool. It's kind of interesting because it's making its own brand and label for myself. I would have never had this if I didn't choose to wear her number," Edenfield told Seminoles.com in an interview in 2022.
Michaela Edenfield eye makeup
Behind Edenfield's catcher's mask — or when she's hitting — fans get a small glimpse into Edenfield's world. She wears different eye makeup ahead of every game, posting videos of her applying makeup pregame and giving fans a tutorial. She has developed a following on TikTok. She bedazzles her eyes ahead of each game with colorful and gem-studded looks, oftentimes with a message.
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Edenfield told D1Sotball's Rhiannon Potkey in 2022 that she drew the inspiration for the eye makeup from the TV show RuPaul's Drag Race.
'They just exuded this crazy amount of confidence and attitude and fierceness and I wanted that for myself,' Edenfield said. 'Being bullied, I was a little down on myself and really insecure and I really wanted to have that confidence.'
Michaela Edenfield stats
Here's Michaela Edenfield's year-by-year stats at Florida State
2025: .333 batting average with 9 home runs and 47 RBIs
2024: .381 batting average with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs
2023: .255 batting average with 13 home runs and 56 RBIs
2022: .281 batting average with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Who is Michaela Edenfield? Florida State catcher's stats, eye makeup
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