Tigers Drop Super Regional Opener 3-1, Face Elimination

Despite a strong outing from Carley Hoover, the Tigers fell 3-1 to Florida State in the opener of the Tallahassee Super Regional.

The Tiger ace did her part to control a dynamic FSU lineup, holding the Super Regional hosts to just eight hits and a walk while striking out six. Hoover got off to a solid start, allowing just one hit in the first two innings of the game. Things appeared to be getting out of hand when Jessie Warren’s single scored Cali Harrods and put two runners on with no outs. Hoover would lockdown the FSU offense for the next two innings.

Offensively, the Tiger offense was held in check by FSU’s Jessica Burroughs, who limited the Tigers to just three hits and three walks and striking out six. Although LSU was able to put runners on in all but two innings, the only time a runner came into score was in the fifth when Emily Griggs singled in Amber Serrett.

FSU would go back to work offensively a half inning later. Sydney Broderick crushed a double to centerfield, scoring Carsyn Gordon. An Ellie Cooper RBI single would add a much needed insurance run.

The Tigers would go in order in the top of the seventh, ultimately falling three to one.

Looking back, this game highlighted the importance of capitalizing on limited opportunities, especially on offense. It wasn’t as if the Tiger offense didn’t put runners on against Burroughs, but they failed to capitalize on them. While Serrett and Griggs stayed hot, Sahvanna Jaquish, Amanda Doyle and Shemiah Sanchez, three key bats, did not record a hit.

With roughly 24-hours between games, and a totally rested Meghan King, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Seminoles use Burroughs a second time. While today’s game certainly gives LSU some experience for finding potential weaknesses in Saturday’s game, the same could be said for Burroughs.

Some of the best performances by the Tigers this postseason have come when the team is against a wall. With just one game standing between LSU and the end of the season, the Tigers figure to be determined to stay alive Saturday afternoon.

Game 2 airs at 2pm CT, live nationwide on ESPN