The run that no one anticipated finally ended, as the LSU softball team lost 6-0 to defending national champion Arizona State Saturday night in the Women’s College World Series.
The Lady Tigers never seemed to get any offensive momentum going with all four of their hits coming in separate innings. The only time two Lady Tigers were on base simultaneously was in the fourth inning, when sophomore center fielder Simone Heyward singled on a bunt and senior shortstop Juliana Santos was hit by a pitch.
ASU got their offense going early, spurred by sophomore right fielder Alix Johnson’s  3-run homerun in the top of the third that gave the Lady Sun Devils a 3-0 lead.
Johnson sparked ASU’s offense again in the fifth when a throwing error by LSU second baseman Allison Falcon allowed Johnson to score from second.
Later in the inning, ASU senior first baseman Annie Lockwood hit a single off LSU senior pitcher Brittany Mack, who replaced starter Rachele Fico after Fico allowed four runs on the night.
The loss knocked the Lady Tigers out of the WCWS in their third all-time appearance and ended an unexpectedly thrilling run to Oklahoma City that included a road regional victory at No. 8-seeded Texas A&M and a super regional triumph at Missouri.
LSU defeated South Florida, 1-0, earlier in the day to face Arizona State in the evening elimination game.
The Lady Tigers began the WCWS Thursday with an opening round loss to top-seeded Cal.
The Tigers finish coach Beth Torina’s first season with a 40-25 record, including a 15-13 mark in Southeastern Conference play.