After run-ruling No. 16 Arizona in Game 1 on Saturday, the No. 8 LSU softball team defeated the Wildcats, 10-5, in Game 2 on Sunday to win the Baton Rouge Super Regional.
For the first time since 2012 and the second during LSU coach Beth Torina tenure, the Tigers (50-12) earned a trip to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
“I’m just so proud of this team,” Torina said. “Starting back in the fall, this team was on a mission. They worked so hard. They’ve truly earned this moment today…I’ve truly enjoyed every minute with these girls this year. It has flew by because of how much I’ve enjoyed it. I’m just so proud to be their coach today.”
LSU took command in the top of the first with four-run rally, sparked by sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry’s started the rally with bunt single.
After junior shortstop Bianka Bell and sophomore third baseman Sahvanna Jaquish drew walks to load the bases with two outs, junior first baseman Sandra Simmons put the Tigers on the board with a two-RBI single.
In the very next at-bat, sophomore designated player Constance Quinn drove in two more with a double to cap off the Tigers’ second four-run first inning of the super regional.
“We have weapons one through nine,” Torina said. “We have kids that can bunt. We have kids that can slap, hit for power. We have a great balance in our lineup. That’s been a huge factor to our success all season.”
Despite being shut out in Game 1, the Wildcats fought back by taking advantage of mistakes by LSU freshman pitcher Allie Walljasper (15-5).
After giving up a leadoff single, Walljasper loaded the bases with a throwing error and walk with the NCAA’s RBI leader, sophomore right fielder Katiyana Mauga, stepping up to the plate.
Mauga made the Tigers pay with a RBI ground out. Senior catcher Chelsea Goodacre drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to cut LSU’s lead to two.
After the first inning, Torina’s message to Walljasper was simple – just settle down.
After both pitchers recorded retired both lineups in order in the second, offense returned in force in the third.
In the top of the frame, Simmons crushed her fourth homer of the season to right field, defying a strong wind blowing toward home plate and extending LSU’s lead to 6-2.
“That’s never my mindset [to hit homers],” Simmons said. “I just go up there having quality at-bats and wanting to hit the ball hard.”
Arizona answered in the bottom of the third by scoring on a fielding error by Bell.
LSU put the game seemingly out of reach in the fourth by driving in two runs on two hits after freshman pitcher Trish Parks (16-6) replaced Wildcats’ sophomore starter Michelle Floyd (19-13). But the Wildcats battled back in the fifth.
After two singles and an error loaded the bases for Arizona, Walljasper walked senior shortstop Kellie Fox and senior catcher Chelsea Goodacre to cut the LSU’s lead to three runs.
Following Walljasper’s second walk-in run, freshman pitcher Carley Hoover (17-5) took over pitching duties with the bases loaded and one out.
Hoover answered the call by recording two strikeouts swinging to get out of the inning on the way to her fourth save of the season.
“That was such a huge moment,” Torina said. “Carley is a great competitor. She truly thrives in those moments. She loves those moments.”
In the top of the seventh, the Tigers added two insurance runs hits by Quinn and senior pinch hitter Dylan Supak.
Simmons lead off the frame with a triple before Quinn drove her in with her second RBI double of the afternoon. Pinch hitting for second baseman Sydney Bourg, Supak capped the Tigers’ historic 2015 season with RBI single in her career at-bat at Tiger Park.
LSU will face No. 4 Auburn in the first round of the WCWS at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.