LSU displayed stellar pitching and an explosive offense, sweeping its doubleheader on day one of the Tiger Invitational. The victories extended LSU’s win streak to seven after starting the season 0-2.
The Tigers opened the day with a 4-0 victory against Northwestern, following the victory with a 14-5 romping of George Washington, ending the game in five innings.
Freshman pitcher Baylee Corbello continued what’s been a hot start to her career, throwing a complete game while allowing four hits and striking out eight. Corbello has recorded a complete game and at least eight strikeouts in each of her three starts this season.
Corbello found herself in trouble to start the game, allowing her first two batters to reach via singles. But the Lake Charles native remained composed as she got out of the inning unscathed giving up only two hits the remainder of the game.
Corbello credited the fan base and her team’s defense as the motivation for such a fine start to her career.
“It really is the fan base that does get you through all of it, and also having the defense behind you,” Corbello said. “That really does give you all the confidence in the world.”
LSU was still hitless entering the fourth when sophomore catcher Kellsi Kloss hit a two-run home run to dead center to give the Tigers the lead. Right after the home run, senior infielder Allison Falcon followed suit and hit a solo shot to right field to make it a three-run lead.
It was the 19th time in LSU softball history players had hit back-to-back home runs, and it was all the offense LSU would need. Falcon admitted that she was not thinking home run when she came to the plate.
“I was actually thinking of doing something small, like get a single,” Falcon said. “But the way the at-bat worked out I said, ‘Ok, I’m just going to have to see what pitch I get and do what I can with it.’”
The Tigers let their bats do the talking in the second game, getting 20 players on base as they beat George Washington 14-3 in five innings. It was the third time during the six-game win streak LSU won via the mercy rule.
LSU’s biggest inning came in the second, when the team scored nine runs turning the game into a blowout. Falcon came up big at the plate again, hitting a grand slam in the inning to give her two home runs on the night.
Falcon said the big inning was proof of how contagious hitting can be once one bat gets going.
The Tigers will take the field tomorrow, playing a double header against No. 18 South Alabama and George Washington. Coach Beth Torina said the team should be wary of the threat USA poses.
“I think South Alabama will be the toughest opponent we’ve faced so far this year,” Torina said. “We know we’re up against a really solid team with two really good pitchers. We’re going to show up with our best game and see what happens.”