Despite exploding for a record-breaking 15 runs in the first game of the Baton Rouge Regional on Friday night, the No. 8 LSU softball team’s bats fell flat in a 1-0 loss against Arizona State on Saturday afternoon.
Although offense stole the show on Day 1 of the Baton Rouge Regional, Arizona State’s freshman pitcher Breanna Macha (18-11) turned all eyes toward the circle by shutting out LSU’s (45-12) power-laden lineup, for just the second time in 2015.
“Breanna Macha was pretty special today and did a great job of keeping [LSU’s] hitters off balance, “ said Arizona State coach Craig Nicholson. “We need to do a little better with some of those [offensive] opportunities, but we did enough with the way that she pitched to day to get it done.”
The Sun Devils (36-20) provided the only glimmer of offense in the first inning by taking advantage of early mistakes by LSU freshman pitcher Carley Hoover (14-5).
After Hoover gave up a leadoff walk, the Sun Devils loaded the bases for senior third baseman Haley Steele with a single and a hit batter by Hoover.
On the second pitch of the at-bat, Steele singled to left field driving in the only run o f the game.
“In the first inning, I had a little trouble adjusting to the zone,” Hoover said. “[Junior catcher] Kellsi Kloss did a great job working behind the plate for me.”
In the bottom of the first inning, senior center fielder A.J. Andrews drew a walk and sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry reached on a bunt single to put LSU in position to take the lead.
But then, Macha took control by rendering the Tigers’ homer-hitting trio of junior shortstop Bianka Bell, sophomore third baseman Sahvanna Jaquish and Kellsi Kloss powerless.
Throughout the season, the heart of the order has come up with crucial hits in pressure situations, collectively tallying 46 home runs and 177 RBIs this season.
But, they stalled against Macha.
Bell grounded out to first. Macha struck out Jaquish swinging to tally two outs before Kloss popped up to short to end the frame and the threat.
“I wish I had an answer on why that happened,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “It’s going to be tough to win games when your three, four and five hitters go zero for [nine]. By no means was it their fault…There are a lot of factors in the game. It’s not just one person, but it’s tough.”
Bell, Jaquish and Kloss went 0-for-9 at the plate with two strikeouts against Macha.
After getting out of the jam in the first, Macha settled in and retired fourteen-straight batters. LSU did not get another until freshman second baseman Sydney Bourg singled to left field in the fifth.
Although the Tigers struggled at the plate, Hoover kept LSU in the game by shutting down Arizona State after allowing a run in the first.
Hoover tallied three walks and only one strikeout, but depended on her defense to record six ground outs and 14 force outs.
“When the defense is laying everything down and making diving catchers and ridiculous plays like that, it’s really hard for me to not give my best as well,” Hoover said.
The Tigers will play the winner of Nebraska and Texas Southern in the loser bracket with their season on the line.
LSU has run-ruled both teams this season. The Tigers defeated Nebraska, 10-2, in five innings in Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, California, on Feb. 21. LSU destroyed Texas Southern, 15-0, in five innings Friday night.
Heading into the elimination game, Torina’s message is one of encouragement.
“They are capable of doing this,” Torina said. “It has all been done before. They still have had a great season. They are still the No. 1 seed in this tournament. They’re still all of those things. They just need to remember that and go out and play the way they are capable of playing.”

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Javier Fernández

LSU junior infielder Bianka Bell (27) trhows the ball towards first base during the Tiger's 1-0 defeat against Arizona St. on Saturday, May 16, 2015 in Tiger Park.