The Tigers (47-15) defeated the Cowgirls (43-13), 2-1, to advance into the Regional Final, after solid performances from junior first baseman Sahvanna Jaquish and sophomore pitcher Carley Hoover.
“Every time we play them, it’s down to the wire,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “This was exactly what we were expecting from them today. Our team continued to fight and stay in it.”
After senior third baseman Bianka Bell drew a two-out walk, Jaquish blasted a RBI-double to the left field wall, scoring Bell.
But she wasn’t done.
With two outs and two on, Jaquish again came in clutch, slamming an RBI-single into left field to bring home the second Tiger run.
Jaquish finished the game 3-for-4, and drove in three of the team’s four runs.
“It took a lot of pressure off me to score first and to score early,” Hoover said. “I knew every time we had runners on base, she was going to get the job done.”
Hoover started in the circle in the April matchup with McNeese and, despite pitching in relief on Friday, was given the nod again.
The Clemson, South Carolina native gave up a leadoff single in the first frame, but limited the McNeese batting order to four hits throughout the remainder of the contest. She recorded eight strikeouts and allowed one run, while earning her 20th win of the season in a complete-game effort.
McNeese’s lone run was a solo homer from senior first baseman Emily Vincent who blasted a ball over the wall just inside the rightfield foul pole.
“We play because we like softball, and this is the best softball we can play,” Hoover said. “I want to play every opportunity I can, so coach [Torina] knows I always want the ball.”
LSU advances to the Regional Final for the third straight season and will be looking to book its berth in a NCAA Super Regional at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
LIU Brooklyn and Arizona State play at 3 p.m. on Saturday, and the winner of that game will battle with McNeese at 6 p.m. for the right to clash with LSU. If the Tigers fall in Game 1 of the final on Sunday, a second game will be played at 4 p.m. to determine the Regional Champion.
“We put ourselves into a really good position for [Sunday],” Jaquish said. “It’s really tough playing out there. It’s really hot [Saturday], so they’ll be battling it out.”
LSU sophomore pitcher Carley Hoover (21) pitches during the Tigers' 10-2 victory against LIU Brooklyn on Friday, May 20, 2016 in Tiger Park.
