When the Florida Gators go up by two or more runs, they are merely unbeatable. LSU fell victim to that Friday night in the second game of the Women’s College World Series as they were defeated 7-0.
The Gators had two home runs on junior pitcher Allie Walljasper who was in relief for junior pitcher Carley Hoover.
Prior to Friday night, LSU (48-21) and Florida (57-8) hadn’t faced off since the 2016 regular season and the Gators swept the series. The last time the conference foes met in the NCAA tournament was in the 2015 WCWS and Florida topped LSU 4-0 in that contest.
Florida’s ace, Kelly Barnhill, earned the win and held LSU to just two hits. The shutout was also Florida’s fourth in a row in the NCAA tournament and 40th of the season, proving how dominant the No. 1 team is.
A two-run double in the fourth inning gave the Gators a 2-0 lead, which is a almost a death sentence when facing a team that is 54-1 once they score two or more runs.
In the top of the sixth, Florida had a 3-0 lead on a solo home run from Janell Wheaton.
Things got away from the Tigers in the top of the seventh when an RBI single, two-run home run and a sac-fly would top off the 7-0 win for the Gators.
An RBI single right up the middle put the Gators up 4-0 in the top of the seventh, giving some more insurance to the team.
LSU will play with its back against the wall one again in the NCAA tournament as they will face the winner of Oregon-Baylor in the elimination bracket.
No. 13 LSU will take the field at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday in Oklahoma City with a chance to keep its season alive.