It took 19 innings for LSU’s 2-1 win over Ole Miss to come to its conclusion, breaking an LSU record and tying a Southeastern Conference record.
In a 19 inning game, LSU broke records for at-bats (8, Aliyah Andrews), put-outs (26, Doyle) and assists (10, Becca Schulte).
LSU’s defense helds strong, keeping the Rebels scoreless for 18 straight innings, but its offense struggled to come around.
LSU’s bats finally woke up in the bottom of the 19th inning when sophomore first baseman Amanda Doyle hit her fourth walk-off of the season to secure a win for the Tigers . Doyle went 0-for-7 before her last at-bat of the game.
“I think it truly doesn’t matter until the last at-bat,” Doyle said. “I was 1-for-8, but that one hit was the one that counted. I was just relaxed up there, thinking that this is the at-bat that matters. Who cares what I did in the past and I just got after it”
The Tigers (31-6, 6-3 SEC) got down early in the top of the first inning. Senior pitcher Allie Walljasper gave up an leadoff single and then made a throwing error on a routine ground ball that scored the run.
Despite having runners on the corners with one out, Walljasper found a way to get out of the inning without giving up another run.
“My defense was phenomenal behind me the entire time,” Walljasper said. “They just never gave up. They were keeping the energy throughout the game, which made it fun. It was a great team win and fight.”
LSU’s offense struggled to string hits together throughout the game, but came back to tie the game in the bottom on the fifth.
Junior catcher Michaela Schlattman lead off with a single through the left side. Junior shortstop Amber Serrett then pushed her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, leading the way for Antoine to hit an RBI-single into right field to tie the game 1-1.
Then both teams went into a stalemate. It was a defensive showdown, as both one continued to hit hard line drives while the other team’s defense consistently made plays.
Ole Miss threatened multiple times throughout the game.
In the top of the tenth inning, the Rebels had runners on second and third with no outs. Ole Miss tried to squeeze bunt, but Sanchez was able to field the bunt cleanly for Doyle to easily throw the runner out at home.
“I was like one would match the other with great defensive plays,” LSU coach Beth Torina. “I don’t think I’ve yelled that loud all season long. It was a lot of fun watching us play defense, watching us compete.”
LSU and Ole Miss both went on to have 13 scoreless innings before the Tigers finally broke it open in the bottom of the 19th.
Freshman right fielder Taryn Antoine started the inning with a leadoff single up the middle in the bottom of the 19th inning. Sophomore left fielder Aliyah Andrews grounded out to third base, putting Antoine on second with one out.
After senior center fielder Emily Griggs lined out to left field, Doyle hit a blooper right over Ole Miss shortstop Paige McKinney’s head to drive in Antoine.
After giving up an unearned run in the first inning, Walljasper didn’t give up another run for the rest of the game.
Walljasper pitched all 19 innings facing 68 total batters without giving up an earned run. She had seven hits, three walks and nine strikeouts with over 230 pitches.
“It was a heroic performance from Allie Walljasper,” said. “I just can’t imagine no earned runs in 19 innings. This is one we’re going to be talking about years and years and years from now. This is something that’s going to be still talked about.”