It was a beautiful day for softball at Tiger Park as 12^th-ranked LSU took on Nicholls State in a non-conference matchup.
The Lady Tigers improved to 24-7 overall, while the Colonels dropped to 19-11 on the year.
The 3-2 walk-off win didn’t come easy for LSU though, as Nicholls hung tough all the way to the end of the game.
“Both pitchers had really good spin,” said freshman infielder Sydney Springfield. “They were a great pitching staff and a great team to compete with.”
LSU got an early lead in the second inning after an RBI single from sophomore utility player Taylor Satchell and an RBI sac fly by freshman outfielder Aliyah Andrews put the Lady Tigers up 2-0.
But the Colonels weren’t finished, as nine-hole hitter Haley Stevenson knocked an RBI single into left field to tie the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning. Head coach Beth Torina yanked sophomore pitcher Sydney Smith for junior Carley Hoover, a move that ended up paying off for her team.
“That’s what Carley Hoover does and I think she’s getting back to that,” Torina said. “I think there were a few games in there where she didn’t come in and relieve the way she wanted to, but I think she’s back to being very solid and very confident in that spot.”
Hoover finished her relief effort with five strikeouts, giving her 99 K’s on the season. Both teams remained neck-and-neck until the seventh inning, when Springfield crushed an RBI single to score Andrews for the go-ahead run.
“For Sydney, she’s definitely proven that she can come up clutch,” said senior outfielder Bailey Landry. “I don’t know how many games she’s come up with that big of a hit, but she buys in, she’s all in and I’m really proud to see that success.”