One day after being upset by Penn State in the Tiger Classic, No. 4 LSU had an opportunity to avenge its early season defeat.
The Tigers did and won in convincing fashion, rolling past Penn State 14-1 in only five innings on Saturday at Tiger Park.
“I think our team wanted to send a message about yesterday,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “They wanted to come out and make sure they did their jobs. Everybody who played today stepped up.”
Contrasting last night’s offensive performance, the Tigers had 14 hits in only four innings.
“This time we just came in with some blood in our veins,” senior right fielder Bailey Landry said. “We wanted to come back and put on a different performance.”
The Tigers raced out to an early lead, scoring five runs in the first.
Junior center fielder Emily Griggs reached first on an error when Landry belted an RBI triple to deep center.
Senior catcher Sahvanna Jaquish soon drove in Landry with a single to left field and freshman pitcher Sydney Springfield doubled to right field, scoring Jaquish.
Junior pitcher Allie Walljasper scored on a sacrifice fly ball after reaching on an error. Springfield scored on a wild pitch for the Tigers’ last run of the inning, putting them ahead 5-0.
After the Tigers tallied another run in the bottom of the third, Penn State replaced junior pitcher Jessica Cummings with sophomore pitcher Madison Shaffer.
The pitching change did not stop LSU’s bats, as the the Tigers scored seven runs following the change.
Sophomore third baseman Shemiah Sanchez also hit an RBI double and Sophomore outfielder Elyse Thornhill then scored on wild pitch, giving the Tigers’ a 8-0 lead.
Griggs hit a two-run RBI single, advancing to second on an error. Landry followed with an RBI single, where she advanced to third on errors. An RBI double for Jaquish scored another run.
Springfield’s RBI single gave the Tigers’ a 13-0 lead, before Penn State changed pitchers again.
Penn State responded in the top of the fourth as they scored on a sacrifice fly to center field, making the score 13-1.
Sophomore shortstop Amber Serrett notched her first hit of the season, knocking a solo homerun over the left field fence in the bottom of the fourth.
Walljasper threw 78 pitches in five innings, fanning five and allowing only three hits.
The run rule win against Penn State was a contrast to the 4-3 walk off win against McNeese State earlier in the day.
“I think we grew up a lot today honestly,” Torina said. “I think I’m getting better at how to manage our personalities as a part of the long road ahead, still to understand how to manage this group and how to utilize our strengths. I think we all got better today though.”
LSU concludes the Tiger Classic tomorrow against Oklahoma St. at 12:30 p.m.
