Sophomore left fielder Ashley Langoni only needed one swing to clinch the Tiger Classic title for the LSU softball team Sunday in Tiger Park.Langoni’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the sixth inning of the championship game against Virginia gave the Tigers an 8-0 win thanks to the NCAA’s eight-run mercy rule.LSU (7-4) picked up three other victories and one loss throughout the weekend tournament.Senior pitcher Cody Trahan (1-0) was nearly unhittable in the championship game against the Cavaliers (2-5). Trahan pitched all six innings against Virginia, struck out four batters and gave up two hits and no runs.Trahan thrived on her ability to control the pitch count, throwing first-pitch strikes to the first 11 batters she faced.”It’s very important to work ahead, and that way, we can throw what we want later on,” Trahan said.Langoni got the LSU offense started early with a first-inning RBI single to center field to drive in junior designated player Ashley Applegate.Sophomore second baseman Courtney Hollier scored senior right fielder Rachel Mitchell with a single to right field on the next play to pull the Tigers ahead, 2-0.Langoni’s bat stayed on fire throughout the day, as she smashed a two-run double off the top of the wall in center field in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend the Tigers’ lead to 6-0.In all, Langoni went 3-for-4 in the game with four RBIs and raised her team-best batting average to .400.”I’m seeing the ball really well,” Langoni said. “Once I start getting the singles and the doubles, I get more confident in myself to where I come up and hit a bomb.”LSU picked up two victories on Friday, beating Virginia and Oklahoma State, 3-0 and 6-4, respectively.In game one against Virginia, LSU freshman pitcher Rachele Fico (3-2) relieved Trahan in the fourth inning and earned her third victory of the season.The Tigers scored the game’s only three runs in the first inning. Senior center fielder Kirsten Shortridge led off the game with a walk and then stole two bases before scoring on an illegal pitch.Applegate and Mitchell followed Shortridge with walks of their own, and Applegate stole a base and then scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore first baseman Anissa Young hit an RBI double to score Mitchell and give the Tigers the 3-0 lead.In game two, the Tigers won a come-from-behind victory against Oklahoma State, 6-4.After the Cowgirls pulled out to a 3-0 lead, Langoni ripped a two-run home run to left center in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 3-2. Junior third baseman Jessica Mouse, Shortridge and Applegate added RBIs later in the inning to give the Tigers a 6-3 lead.LSU’s only loss of the tournament was to No. 4 Michigan (6-2) on Saturday, 2-0.Wolverine junior pitcher Jordan Taylor (4-0) dominated the Tigers from the circle. Taylor struck out 12 LSU hitters and only allowed three hits and one walk.”You have to give the credit to the opponent,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “We were overmatched by that young lady.”Mack received the loss for the Tigers after pitching seven innings, striking out eight batters and giving up six hits and two runs.The Tigers bounced back in their evening game Saturday against Oklahoma and beat the Cowgirls, 5-1, to advance to Sunday’s championship.Shortridge (2-0) earned the win in the circle by holding the Cowgirls to five hits and one run, while adding four strike outs in her 4 1/3 innings of work.
 
 
 
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