The dynamic duo of Jalia Lassiter and Alix Franklin helped LSU punch its ticket to the Super Regionals by defeating Virginia Tech 7-2 in Sunday’s Regional Championship game.

The Hokies, after getting shut out by the Tigers in Saturday’s game, knew they had to start things off differently. In the bottom of the first inning, Virginia Tech’s Jordyn Lynch singled into right field, sending teammate Addison Foster to score and get the Hokies on the board first.

Later on, the Hokies came back out again on offense to tally their second run of the game with the help of Annika Rohs sliding into home plate with one out remaining.

After being down for the first time this weekend, LSU was able to strike back with the help of Lassister up at bat. The center fielder slammed a solo home run into left field in the top of the third inning, giving the Tigers a much-needed run to counteract the Hokies’ 2-0 lead.

“It was awesome,” Lassiter said. “I’m always one swing away and I really believe in that. I just told myself I’m there. I’m that spark and I just kind of go for it. So, I was excited to kind of do that for them.”

The senior dazzled in her last home game in the purple and gold, ending Sunday’s championship game with two hits and one run.

That start led by Lassiter helped carry LSU’s bats the rest of the way, leading them to score three more runs in the third inning and three more in the later half of the game.

“I always say she makes us brave,” Head Coach Beth Torina said. “She steps up to the plate … is fearless. That’s an incredible thing to have in a lead-off hitter.”

Not only did the senior outfielder shine for the Tigers, but also Franklin. The St. Amant native made the play of the game for LSU with a catch at the right field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning, preventing the Hokies from scoring and getting themselves back in the game.

“I just can’t even believe that happened,” Franklin said. “That was just so awesome. I’ve never played in the outfield before, so to make that catch was just really really cool. And I’m just glad that we’re going to the supers.”

While LSU was racking up runs and making diving catches in the outfield, the Hokies struggled on both sides of the field, producing only five hits and making two errors in the field.

“At this point, it’s us against us,” Torina said. “Less about the opponent on the other side of the field.”

Sunday’s win over Virginia Tech marks the second time in three years that the Tigers advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.

LSU (40-17) will face No.1 seed Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama from May 21-24 in a best-of-3 series. The start date is still TBD.