The No. 7 LSU softball team did something tonight it hasn’t had to do much ofthis season — come from behind to win.
The Tigers rallied from three runs down, the biggest deficit they’ve faced this season, to defeat Ball State, 7-3, and move to 18-0 on the season.
Ball State grabbed the lead in the third inning, but LSU was able to fight back and prevail thanks to an offensive explosion in the 5th inning that included sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish’s eighth home run of the season.
The Tigers have frequently had big innings in their games, and LSU coach Beth Torina said it’s because players feed off each other’s successes at the plate.
“Hitting is contagious, and I think seeing the person in front of you step up to the plate and do a good job makes you more confident that you can do it,” Torina said,
The first and second innings were scoreless affairs. Ball State (7-9) recorded two hits in the first and LSU got one through senior center fielder A.J. Andrews. Both teams went down in order in the second.
In the third, Ball State got the better of LSU sophomore pitcher Kelsee Selman. The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead courtesy of a solo home run from junior shortstop Selena Reyna. Junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run shot later in the inning. 
Selman didn’t last any longer in the circle. She gave up three runs on six hits in two and 1/3 innings pitched, striking out four batters on 49 pitches.
Freshman Carley Hoover took over for Selman and got LSU out of trouble in the top of third with two strikeouts before striking out the side in the top of the fourth.
Hoover said her fastball was working well when she came in.
“Honestly, I came in today and just threw fastballs,” Hoover said. “Sometimes it’s just a little different look with me compared to the other pitchers to speed it up a little bit first time through the lineup.”
Hoover said she was confident that if she could keep the lead at 3-0, the offense would get the team back in the game.
The LSU lineup proved her right in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers got a run back, cutting Ball State’s lead to 3-1. Junior shortstop Bianka Bell walked before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. A fielder’s choice allowed her to score and gave junior first baseman Sandra Simmons an RBI. 
In the bottom of the fifth, LSU staged a two-out rally that resulted in five runs. 
Senior center fielder A.J. Andrews drew a two-out walk and sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry followed with a single. Bell drove in a run with a single to right field in the next at-bat to cut the lead to 3-2.
Jaquish stepped to the plate and unloaded a three-run blast over the left field fence, giving LSU a 5-3 lead. Freshman designated player Allie Walljasper added an RBI single to cap the scoring in the inning, extending LSU’s lead to 6-3.
The Tigers added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with a Jaquish sac fly to make the score 7-3, and that lead was more than enough for Hoover. 
In four and 2/3 innings of work, Hoover allowed only three hits without giving up a run. She struck out eight batters and didn’t allow a walk on 65 pitches.
“From what we’ve seen from her she’s just dominant in a relief role,” Torina said. “She really can come in and close the door.”
LSU has another doubleheader tomorrow with games against Florida Atlantic at 5 p.m. and Northwestern State at 7:30 p.m.