With the game on the line and a runner on third, LSU first baseman Raeleen Gutierrez stepped up to plate.
The Tigers and Northwestern were tied at 12-12 in the bottom of the seventh inning, and LSU had one last chance to take the lead.
READ MORE: LSU baseball ties program hits record in 27-5 victory over VMI
If it fell short, the Tigers’ comeback from a 5-0 deficit wouldn’t matter. Ali Newland’s game-tying grand slam in the sixth inning wouldn’t matter. Pitcher Sydney Berzon’s seven strikeouts wouldn’t matter.
The win was ultimately left up to one batter to bring Danieca Coffey home from third, and Gutierrez delivered. She hit a sacrifice pop fly to center field, and the Tigers won 13-12.
This success was just another example of LSU’s resiliency throughout the tournament.
In the next game of the invitational at Clearwater, Florida, the Tigers trailed No. 6 Oklahoma State 6-5. It was the bottom of the seventh, and LSU had the bases loaded. The rain started to pour, but head coach Beth Torina pleaded with the umpires to let the game finish.
However, Cowgirls pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl, struggling to get a grip on the wet ball, and the rest of the defense with soaked gloves, wanted the game to pause.
Even so, the game went on, and LSU catcher Hannah Carson hit a hard grounder to the 5-6 hole. The ball went off the tip of third baseman Tallen Edwards’ glove and rolled to left field, allowing Newland and Maia Townsend to score. LSU won 7-6.
The Tigers proved their offense can clinch wins and overcome defensive errors and instances of subpar pitching.
Against Georgia Tech in the first game of the tournament, pitcher Raelin Chaffin struggled to throw strikes and gave up eight runs. Fortunately, LSU’s batters responded by getting on base and scoring. The Tigers defeated the Yellow Jackets 12-8.
While the Tigers scored a total of 32 runs in the invitational and went 3-0, they experienced trouble in the circle.
Torina had to pull pitchers in the two games Berzon didn’t start then placed her as the reliever in both. To secure the win against Georgia Tech, Berzon closed the seventh inning.
The next day against Northwestern, Kelley Lynch pitched for 1.1 innings but gave up five runs and walked two batters. Berzon threw for the next 5.2 innings and only walked one batter.
MORE SPORTS: LSU men’s basketball seals the deal in 64-63 win over No. 11 South Carolina
Torina won’t be able to put Berzon in for every tough matchup, so LSU will have to work on developing its pitching staff, especially before conference play starts in March.
The Tigers came back to win multiple games, but the team continued to dig itself into holes, relying on its offense to play catchup.
With the amount of depth in LSU’s lineup, each player can make clutch defensive plays. However, its opponents kept getting hits and finding holes to keep games close. The LSU defense needs to continue dominating in the field while strengthening its pitching, so the game doesn’t come down to walk-off plays.
Because of the inclement weather, the latter half of Saturday and all of the Sunday games were canceled in the invitational. The Tigers were unable to face No. 5 Washington in a game that would’ve given both teams an opportunity to prove themselves.
LSU will aim to continue its perfect record Thursday, Feb. 22, through Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Tiger Classic at home. The Tigers will play Boise State, University of Houston and Austin Peay.
