LSU senior shortstop Tayl’r Hollis may never score a game-ending run in a more bizarre fashion.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning and a commanding 9-2 lead, senior second baseman Shannon Stein was hit by a pitch, sending Hollis in from third base for the game-winning run by eight-run rule, 10-2.
“Usually with the game-winning run, it’s a base hit,” Hollis said. “When she got hit it was like … OK? I’ll take it. I’ll take a win.”
The win was the Tigers’ (33-12) third of the season against Nicholls State (25-22). It was also the team’s final non-conference game before moving to a new stadium next season.
The victory was a welcome change for coach Yvette Girouard, who watched her team go 3-5 in April.
“It was nice to see the kids smile and have fun,” Girouard said. “It’s been a little rough for us lately.”
Girouard specifically praised the efforts of senior pitcher Tiffany Garcia, who pitched a six-inning complete game, striking out five batters and allowing two runs on three hits.
“Tiffany threw outstanding except for one pitch,” Girouard said. “The game could have been over twice for her if we had gotten the run-rule earlier.”
The Colonels’ only runs came on a two run, home run in the top of the sixth inning. The blast marked the 11th straight game the Tigers have allowed a home run.
“Absolutely that bothers me especially since I’m the pitching coach,” Girouard said. “There’s no way to defend a ball that goes out of the yard.”
Nicholls State contributed a good portion of LSU’s offense. The Colonel’s pitching staff walked eight batters, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch. Three LSU runners scored on walks, one scored on the wild pitch and Hollis scored when Stein was hit by a pitch.
The Tigers start a crucial conference stretch with a road series against Tennessee (40-7) this weekend.
LSU is ranked second in the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division and trails Tennessee by 1/2 a game for third in conference. Girouard said winning the SEC outright is an impossibility, but goals of winning the conference tournament and making the World Series are still attainable.
“This was definitely an awesome start for us,” said senior catcher Killian Roessner. “We came out on fire and just took the life out of them.”
—-Contact David Helman at [email protected]