Tiger Park was lively and fully packed for a Good Friday game against Texas A&M. Then, the good day turned great for Tiger fans after LSU softball beat the Aggies 5-1.
The Tigers were down 1-0 for five innings, and everyone in the crowd was enthralled by the nail-bitter.
Shortstop Taylor Pleasants doubled to tie the game in the fifth inning. But, an explosive bottom of the sixth with two hits, six walks and four runs secured the win for LSU.
Aggie fans went silent, and the majority of the park wearing purple and gold was standing, screaming “L-S-U” and “Geaux Tigers.” Head coach Beth Torina also credited the win to the fans.
“Really, really loud crowd and a great crowd tonight here in Tiger Park,” Torina said. “It was a total effort by everyone in the ballpark tonight.”
With the game tied and bases loaded in the top of the sixth, pitcher Sydney Berzon came to the circle for LSU. With two outs, she got the batter to ground-out, leaving the three batters on base.
“When you have a Sydney Berzon in your pocket, you play that card when you can,” Torina said.
Berzon earned the win after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings.
To end the tie, freshman-third baseman Maddox McKee hit an RBI to bring right fielder McKenzie Redoutey home.
McKee was hitting off her old teammate Emiley Kennedy from Lake Creek High School to bring home the run.
“I was saying before the series it’s unreal playing A&M because I live 30 minutes away from A&M,” McKee said. “I’ve been watching them my whole life.”
The defense was also a large part of this win highlighted by a remarkable, diving catch from left fielder Ali Newland.
“Our defense is one of our greatest strengths,” Torina said.
The Aggies got on the board first and fast. In the opening inning, catcher Julia Cottril hit a single through the 3-4 hole to shallow right field. First baseman Amari Harper rounded third and beat the throw home.
In the second inning, the bases were loaded with no outs. Texas A&M had every card in its favor to add more runs. But, Lynch dealt three strikeouts in a row, leaving the the Aggies scoreless.
Lynch threw six strikeouts and only allowed one run.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from her,” fellow pitcher Berzon said. “Her demeanor is amazing out there.”
The Aggies weren’t chasing Lynch’s riseballs. She walked six batters. However, the umpire’s tight strike zone had both sets of fans screaming from the stands.
For four innings, the Tigers only got on base by drawing walks. Both pitchers had to adjust as the game progressed.
Aggie pitcher Shaylee Ackerman left the Tigers hitless for four innings. She tallied two strikeouts and was pulled in the fifth inning.
Overall, LSU’s at-bats in the early innings consisted of numerous ground-outs and fly-outs with few batters put in scoring position.
Pleasants changed the momentum of the game in the fifth inning. The shortstop hit a double that rolled to the center-field fence. Using her speed, center fielder Ciara Briggs scored from first.
Pleasants continued her success from the previous night. In the first game, she hit a walk-off home run in the eighth inning, and the Tigers defeated Texas A&M 2-1.
For the second game in a row, LSU produced late on offense to win. From freshman to graduate students, the Tigers created runs.
“This team is really special,” Torina said. “They’re very old and veteran, but I think they’ve included all these young people and these freshmen, and they’ve been able to teach them the ways.”
The Tigers conclude the series against Texas A&M on Saturday at 2 p.m.
