On Sunday, LSU defeated UL-Lafayette in Game 7 to win its third straight regional championship and punch a ticket to the NCAA Super Regional tournament in Tallahassee, Florida.
The Cajuns struck first to take an early 1-0 lead on an RBI double off the center field wall from DJ Sanders in the top of the first.
Junior pitcher Allie Walljasper, who started in the circle for the Tigers, was able to minimize the damage to just one run from the Cajuns, but the next time Sanders came to the plate with two runners on base, coach Beth Torina sent junior pitcher Carley Hoover in the game.
“There’s times in games where you just need that momentum switch or that pick-me-up moment,” Torina said. “And she was able to give that to us this weekend.”
Hoover threw 225 pitches on Sunday through two games, but she knew she wanted the ball on Monday.
“I got here this morning and coach already had the plan, and I told her I wanted the ball,” Hoover said. “I just want to play, I want to win, I want to compete. Whatever it takes.”
Hoover’s momentum in the circle carried over into the Tigers’ offense as a steal to second base by freshman outfielder Aliyah Andrews pushed sophomore shortstop Amber Serrett through home plate.
LSU tied the score 1-1 in the bottom of the third as the lineup turned over.
Junior outfielder Emily Griggs followed up with an RBI single to left field and notched her ninth straight hit of the tournament giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
“It almost got comical to me,” Torina said. ‘[Emily Griggs] would get on first base, and I almost couldn’t believe it. It was amazing.”
Freshman designated player Sydney Springfield stirred up some controversy with a two-run shot that stayed just inside the left field foul pole, but was still ruled a home run after Cajuns coach Michael Lotief argued the call.
Griggs stretched her hitting streak to double digits in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single to pad the Tigers’ lead 5-1 and solidify the win.
“The past few days has just been a testament to how tough this team is,” Torina said. “What they have been through in the last few days is just unreal when you think about the hours and what they had to endure. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
In less than 24 hours, the No. 18 LSU softball team put together three wins to walk away with the Baton Rouge Regional title.
Hoover dominated in the circle final two days of regional tournament
“It was Carley’s weekend,” Torina said. “She was heroic in everything she did this weekend.”
It was simply put by Torina when she was asked about the Tigers’ ace and her performance in the final three games of the Baton Rouge Regional.
After Hoover relieved Walljasper in Game 7, she held the Cajuns to just four hits through five innings.
Arguably her biggest save of the game was the first batter she faced, Sanders, as she worked her way out the two-on jam against a dangerous slugger.
“You can’t be scared of anyone in the lineup,” Hoover said. “You have to attack everyone in the lineup. That’s my mindset.”
The junior threw a total of 290 pitches in the final three games, putting the Tigers two games away from their third straight Women’s College World Series.
Consistent offense from Griggs set the tone for rest of the Tigers’ lineup
Having a clear mind is the secret to seeing the ball well, according to Griggs.
“I’m really just not thinking,” Griggs said. “Going up there with a clear mind and just knowing that I’ve prepared and I’ve put in the work all season. I’ve watched the film and do whatever I needed to do to feel confident. That’s what I’ve been doing.”
The Tigers’ leadoff hitter was 14-for-18 in the tournament and produced six RBIs and five runs.
“I felt so confident every time she got up,” Torina said. “In your lineup, you’re always thinking, ‘Let’s get back to so-and-so.’ This weekend it was, ‘Let’s get back to Emily.’”
