Softball Shutout in Super Regional Opener

It was a battle of pitchers in the opener of the Baton Rouge Super Regional that saw Florida State take a 1-0 lead over LSU in the series thanks to a 1-0 win.

After a solid offensive showing in the regional, the Tiger bats were silenced by Kathryn Sandercock who allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out a pair in the complete game shutout effort.

It wasn’t as if the Tigers were totally devoid of chances. In the bottom of the seventh, Amanda Doyle hit a bullet right at FSU third baseman Sydney Sherrill that had it gotten past Sherrill would have scored Ciara Briggs from second base with just one out. Earlier in the game Taylor Pleasants had a long fly ball that died on the warning track but would have put the Tigers ahead.

For her part Shelbi Sunseri matched Sandercock through five innings. She finished the game allowing six hits, one earned, while picking up three stirkeouts. The one run she did allow came on a sac-fly.

The story of the game is one that is all too familiar to the Tigers this season. In spite of having some chances, this game was really non competitive offensively. Even giving full credit to Sandercock, this is another case of the Tigers bats being far too quiet for a team that has championship aspirations.

There is little time for the Tigers to sulk as they now must win two straight in order to make it to Oklahoma City. LSU looks to fend off elimination Friday at 6 P.M.