The LSU softball team secured a trip to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City for the first time since 2012, with a 10-5 victory over Arizona in Game Two of the Super Regional.
LSU was able to build off an eight run performance yesterday with ten Sunday evening.
Sandra Simmons was a major force behind the ten run performance. The infielder went three-for-three with five RBI, including a two-run home run, while scoring three times.
Once again the Tiger offense was able to get to Arizona and starter Michelle Floyd, with Simmons opening up the scoring thanks to a two run single and which was followed by a Constance Quinn two-RBI double.
In the third, Simmons would launch her first home run of the post season. Just one inning later Simmons would score Bailey Landry as part of a two run inning, giving the Tigers a solid 8-3 lead midway through the game.
Arizona’s offense, which had been shut out the game before, did its best to keep pace with LSU throughout the game. This included a two run firs to slice the LSU lead in half.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Arizona had its best chance to tie the game. Down by three after Kellie Fox drew a bases loaded walk and with two runs already in, Head Coach Beth Torina, pulled Allie Walljasper in favor of Carly Hoover.
Hoover would strike out the next two batters she would face to preserve the Tiger lead.
In her two and two thirds inning of shutout relief Hoover would strike out three. The start, Walljasper, yielded five runs, two earned, while surrendering five hits, three walks and not recording a single strikeout.
Two more runs in the ninth, one of which was scored by Simmons, would finish up the offense.
In the bottom of the ninth Hoover would allow a two out double, one of just three extra base hits LSU surrendered during the Super Regional. That runner would mean nothing as Hoover got the next batter, Mo Mercado, to fly out and send LSU to the World Series.
Looking back, LSU has to be extremely pleased with how they played this series. Particularly impressive was the offense, which finally woke up and really carried the team in the Super Regional.
Also impressive was how LSU limited the heart of the Arizona lineup, Kellie Fox and Katiyana Mauga with the duo going 0-for-10 in the series.
Next up for LSU is familiar foe in Auburn, to whom LSU dropped two-of-three to in the last series of the regular season. The two Tiger squads mark an astounding five SEC teams in Oklahoma City.
The two teams face each other on Thursday May 28th at 1:30 on ESPN.
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