The No. 5 seed LSU softball team fought off a late rally to defeat No. 6 seed Alabama, 5-3, in a Women’s College World Series elimination game that didn’t end until nearly 1 a.m.
The Tigers (52-13) scored all five of their runs in the first two innings and weathered the Crimson Tide’s (48-15) comeback attempt to extend their season at least one more day.
“Our team came out really strong in the beginning of the game,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “They were ready to play even with the delay from the extra-inning game before. They came out ready. They came out prepared.”
Freshman pitcher Allie Walljasper walked freshman second baseman Demi Turner in the game’s first at-bat on four pitches. A wild pitch and a fielder’s choice allowed Turner to move over to third. With two outs, sophomore third baseman Marisa Runyon singled through the right side to give Alabama a 1-0 lead after half an inning.
In the bottom of the first, sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry singled with one out to give LSU its first baserunner of the game and stole second base to put herself in scoring position. Sophomore third baseman Sahvanna Jaquish’s RBI single tied the game, and she advanced to second on the throw home.
In the following at-bat, junior catcher Kellsi Kloss hit a bloop double to left center to score Jaquish, and an Alabama throwing error allowed her to come around to score, giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead after one inning.
Walljasper worked around a leadoff single in the top of the second inning to retire the Crimson Tide and preserve the Tigers’ lead.
LSU added to its lead in the bottom half of the frame. Sophomore designated player Constance Quinn worked Alabama sophomore pitcher Sydney Littlejohn into a nine-pitch walk. Freshman second baseman Sydney Bourg’s sacrifice bunt advanced Quinn to second.
An infield single from freshman left fielder Emily Griggs’ put runners on the corners, and Griggs advanced to second when senior center fielder A.J. Andrews grounded into a fielder’s choice. Landry’s single through the right side upped LSU’s lead to 5-1. 
“[Bailey Landry] was born with a clutch gene,” Torina said. “I’m convinced of that. She just seems to come through for us anytime the pressure is on. The bigger the moment, the bigger she shines.”
Neither team managed to score in the third, fourth or fifth innings, but Quinn’s second walk of the game in the bottom of the fourth saw Alabama turn to senior pitcher Leslie Jury in the circle.
An error and a single to start the sixth inning gave the Crimson Tide a chance to chip away at the Tigers’ lead. But Walljasper ended the threat by retiring the next three batters.
“I was just trying to throw quality pitches the whole time and keep my team in it,” Walljasper said. “Basically, I had to trust the process and throw quality pitches.”
LSU threatened to extend its lead in the bottom of the frame with two-outs, but Jury shut the door.
Alabama’s first two batters reached base in the seventh inning, and LSU turned to freshman pitcher Carley Hoover to try to close the game out. Hoover struck out Turner, but a wild pitch and a walk presented a bases-loaded situation for the Crimson Tide.
Senior right fielder Jadyn Spencer hit a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat, and a wild pitch cut LSU’s lead to 5-3. But Hoover got Runyon to ground out to end the game and extend LSU’s season for at least one more game.
LSU faces Michigan at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and must defeat the Wolverines twice in order to advance to the Championship Series. 
“As far as playing Michigan, we understand what a quality program they are,” Torina said. “They have a great team. I know they’re on a huge roll right now, a huge win streak. It would be great to know more about them than to have the short turnaround, but we’re going to give it our best shot and do what we can.”