OKLAHOMA CITY — The Tigers’ time is finally here.
After years of watching others become legends in the Women’s College World Series, the No. 8 LSU softball team will begin its own run at history in the WCWS against No. 4 Auburn at 1:30 today at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
Chasing its first national title, LSU will look to continue the clutch hitting and dominance in the circle the Tigers have trademarked during their postseason run against a power-laden Auburn lineup.
“I feel like starting back in the fall this team was on a mission. They worked so hard, and they truly earned this moment,” LSU coach Beth Torina said.
After a suffering a 1-0 loss to No. 23 Arizona State on May 16 during the Baton Rouge Regional, the Tigers woke up offensively and have earned a regional and super regional title with five straight wins, outscoring their opponents, 30-10, during this stretch.
LSU’s confidence at the plate can be tracked back to a couple of RBI singles in the 10th inning of an elimination game against Nebraska later the same day in regionals, when the Tigers finally got the hit they needed when they needed it.
After All-Americans sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry walked and junior shortstop Bianka Bell reached on fielder’s choice, junior catcher Kellsi Kloss and sophomore third baseman Sahvanna Jaquish drove in in the winning run and an insurance run to avoid elimination.
“Every hit in that inning was hug, but especially for Sahvanna,” Torina said after the win against Nebraska. “She is really working through some things. She wants this as much as anybody.”
Following a 5-0 victory against Arizona State in the Game 1 of the regional final on May 17, the Tigers earned a trip to super regionals in a walk-off fashion a 4-3 win in its second extra inning game of the season.
Bell stepped up to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning with two runners on. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Bell ripped a walk off RBI single up the middle, winning the super regional in two games and punching its first ticket to Oklahma City since 2012.
“I just had a lot of things burning through my head,” Bell said after the regional win. “I just tried to fight through it … and just tried to beat them with the stick.”
While Bell shined in the regional, junior first baseman Sandra Simmons and Landry put on a show in the super regional.
In LSU’s second run-rule victory of the postseason against Arizona in Game 1, Landry went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and earned a SportsCenter Top 10 appearance with a double play in right field to get out of a jam in the second inning.
While Landry showed power in Game 1 with a two-run home run, Simmons took command of Game 2 by going 3-for-3 at the plate, including a two-run homer and 5 RBIs in the Tigers’ 10-5 trashing of Arizona.
“That’s never my mindset [to hit homers],” Simmons said after the super regional win. “I just go up there having quality at-bats and wanting to hit the ball hard.”
Against an Auburn lineup that features five hitters with at least 10 long balls this season, the Tigers’ ability shut down elite power hitters will be crucial.
At the plate, Auburn depends on its power hitting of junior infielder Emily Carosone, junior outfielder Tiffany Howard and sophomore first baseman Jade Rhodes. The All-American trio has combined for 200 RBIs this season and 55 of Auburn’s total 98 homers this season.
With the power of both orders, pitching will be the key to victory for either team.
Freshman pitcher Carley Hoover has dominated competition in the postseason, notching a save and two wins while posting a perfect ERA in 10 and 1/3 innings of work since her loss to the Sun Devils.
Against Arizona in Game 1 of the super regional, the Clemson, South Carolina, native pitched a one-hitter that propelled the Tigers to Game 1 smashing of Arizona, 8-0.
“The fact that we were able to shut out [Arizona] shows what a great performance Carley Hoover had today,” Torina said after the Game 1 win.
Against No. 11 Louisiana-Lafayette in the Auburn Super Regional, Auburn’s pitching staff gave up a combined 13 earned runs and 4 homers in two games.
Despite the challenge awaiting them on the field, the Tigers look forward to playing in the venue they’ve dreamed about for years.
“We’ve worked so hard,” Simmons said. “I’ve worked my entire life, and I know all my teammates have worked their entire life for this moment. It’s exciting to be able to go back for the seniors this year and to go out with a bang.”