The No. 15 LSU softball team made quick work of Northwestern State on Tuesday night in Tiger Park, defeating the Lady Devils in five innings, 8-0.
Senior pitcher Allie Walljasper started in the circle tonight for the Tigers and in her 4.2 inning outing, she threw for three strikeouts and only gave up two hits and no earned runs.
“Tonight was just a big win,” Walljasper said. “It’s hard to come out after a lot of SEC games and during the mid-week. Everybody just came yesterday [to practice] and worked hard. It really showed.”
However, Walljasper’s biggest moment of the game occurred outside of the circle. With the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Walljasper blasted a homerun over the left field wall for a grand slam.
Walljasper’s second career grand slam had a total distance of 274 feet and an exit speed of 88 mph. Walljasper also had a double in the fifth inning.
“She had such a good bat at Tennessee in a big moment for us, so I thought to give her a shot tonight,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “Obviously it proved to be the right decision because she had a great day.”
Freshman pitcher Shelbi Sunseri relieved Walljasper in the circle midway through the bottom of the fifth inning. Sunseri faced one batter in .1 innings pitched, but did not allow a hit.
Walljasper (12-4) picked up another win in the circle and NSU’s Mikayla Brown (9-5) took the loss. Brown surrendered five hits and five runs in 3.1 innings pitched.
Sophomore first basemen Amanda Doyle continued to shine on offense for LSU. 
Doyle hit 2-of-2 with two RBIs and had eight putouts and a double play. Doyle’s double play received a standing ovation from Tiger fans after she caught a well-struck line drive and tagged the NSU baserunner before she tagged up.
Sophomore left fielder Aliyah Andrews, senior center fielder Emily Griggs, junior designated hitter Elyse Thornhill and Walljasper also picked up RBIs in the win.
On the night, LSU had eight hits and no errors. NSU had two hits and no errors.
“It’s nice to get back on the positive side,” Torina said. “It’s nice for [the players] to get some confidence back on that side of the plate. It was fun to see that.”
LSU (33-10, 7-7 SEC) will resume play against No. 12 Texas A&M in a three game SEC series starting this Friday at 6 p.m. in Tiger Park
 

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Alyssa Berry

LSU sophomore infielder Amanda Doyle (22) bats during the Tigers' 3-1 loss against Ole Miss on Sunday, April 8, 2018 at Tiger Park.