Softball tops FSU 6-5 in Game One

LSU fended off a late FSU rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a 6-5 victory in Game One of the Super Regional, putting LSU just one win away from earning a trip to the Women’s College World Series Finals.

The Tigers entered the bottom of the seventh inning with a solid 6-2 lead over FSU. LSU starter Allie Walljasper got a quick strikeout and ground out putting the Tigers one out away from victory. Then things got interesting. A 3-2 walk was followed by a groundball that caused some confusion between Walljasper, Becca Schulte and Amanda Doyle as to which player should field the ball, resulting in an infield single. The next batter, FSU slugger Jessie Warren launched a home run to deep center field, putting the Noles just one run away from tying the game. Beth Torina opted for Carley Hoover and the Tiger ace would blow a3-2 pitch past Carsyn Gordon, securing the strikeout, third out and win for the Tigers.

What positioned LSU to hold off the Noles late was a Tiger offense that made its mark throughout the game. The scoring began in the second when Doyle launched a solo home run to left off Kaylee Hanson.

In the fifth Michaela Schlattman launched a homer to left. A few batters later, Emily Griggs would walk with the bases loaded, scoring Amber Serrett. The next batter, Doyle, would continue to her big day by doubling down the left field line scoring Aliyah Andrews and Taylor Antoine. LSU got a big insurance run in the seventh, when Antoine singled in Schulte.

The Tigers pitching was a mixed bag. Allie Walljasper cruised through stretches of the game, including not allowing an FSU hit for the first seven batters of the game. She did run into some trouble in the bottom of the fifth, allowing an RBI double, but ultimately worked out of a first and third one out situation only allowing one run on a sac fly and preserving the LSU lead. Walljasper was also a victim of a fluky play on the infield single in the seventh that should have been the final out, keeping Warren from even making a plate appearance.

With the win the Tigers need just one more victory to earn a trip to the finals in Oklahoma City. Due to weather concerns, the if-necessary Game Three will be played Saturday. The more immediate Game Two is still set for Saturday at its originally scheduled time of 4:04 PM.