After a perfect 5-0 weekend at the LSU Invitational, the No. 5 LSU softball team extended its win streak to 15 as the squad dominated the three-day event. Coach Beth Torina saw her squad hit multiple home runs, freshman Sydney Smith threw a perfect game and the team scored at least eight runs in each of the five contests.
But sophomore pitcher Carley Hoover stole the show for the Tigers (19-2).
The Clemson, South Carolina native didn’t pitch Friday and watched as freshman hurler Sydney Smith completed a flawless five-inning game. Hoover started the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader against Liberty and was commanding from the first pitch.
She made quick work of the Lady Flames (8-11) striking out 10 batters and walking just two in a one-hit shutout.
“When she goes out and competes and forgets about the rest of it, she’s pretty much unbeatable,” Torina said. “They feel differently when she’s on the mound … She commands something different by the way she carries herself.”
After her impressive performance in Game 1, Hoover was thought to be done for the day. But the way game two unfolded called for an encore.
Smith started Saturday’s nightcap against Louisiana Tech and all seemed well for the first two innings. On the freshman’s watch, three runs crossed the plate and she allowed five hits.
LSU responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame, but the damage had already been done. The Lady Techsters (15-5) had taken the lead and chased Smith out of game.
Junior Baylee Corbello entered the circle to start the fourth but was quickly sent packing as well by the visitors. Three runs scored on two hits putting the TWigers in a 6-2 hole in just 0.1 innings of work. Hoover entered the contest and her impact was felt immediately as she struck out the two remaining outs.
She finished the contest striking out 9-of-13 batters and allowed just one hit changing the direction of the ballgame.
“This game is a lot about momentum,” said junior infielder Sahvanna Jaquish. “When she took back the momentum for us, I feel we had a lot of confidence in our at-bats.”
Hoover still wasn’t done.
After 134 pitches on Saturday, the sophomore ace started the the final game of the weekend versus Tennessee Tech on Sunday and picked up right where she left off the day before.
Hoover struck out seven more and walked two as she no-hit the Golden Eagles (5-13) — her first career no-hitter.
“Those were the best performances of the season I’ve seen, so far,” said senior catcher Kellsi Kloss. “She has such a good mentality going in there every single game … She such a big competitor, and I have so much confidence in her when she goes in.”
Hoover’s performance was one for the ages and earned her Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week honors.
She collected three wins for the Tigers to remain undefeated, only allowing seven baserunners over 13.1 innings thrown and earning her first career no hitter, all in less than 24 hours.
Her showing was arguably the best of her career, but Hoover was dismissive, focusing instead on the team.
“It was a really fun weekend of softball, it’s hard to say what’s the best,” she said. “[We] played really well this weekend.”