Rarely does a pitcher win two games in the same day. But that’s exactly what sophomore pitcher Carley Hoover did Saturday night.
The No. 5 LSU softball team defeated Liberty 8-0 via mercy-rule in five innings in Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader, but faced a tougher test in the nightcap. Louisiana Tech came into Tiger Park unphased and used multiple three-run innings to take a lead LSU almost couldn’t overcome.
After being down 6-2 early, the Tigers (18-2) came back and defeated the Lady Techsters (15-5), 9-6.
“I don’t think anyone panicked,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “They were confident in themselves and their offense, there was a lot of ballgame left. They just tried to chip away at [the lead].”
Hoover dominated in Game 1 against Liberty, striking out 10 batters in a complete game shutout effort, and most thought she was done for the day. But pitching woes early called for her entry.
Starting LSU pitcher freshman Sydney Smith allowed five hits and two earned runs. Her showing upped her season earned run average from 0.29 to 0.78.
Junior hurler Baylee Corbello came in hoping to solve the Tigers problems. She didn’t.
Corbello pitched just a third of an inning, but allowed two earned runs, a pair of hits, and walked two batters. Hoover’s number was then called.
She entered the second game in the fourth with one goal in mind.
“To shut things down,” she said.
And that’s exactly what the sophomore did.
The Clemson, South Carolina native struck out 9-of-13 batters she faced to bring her Saturday total to 19. Her performance combined with the potent Tiger offense became a winning recipe for Torina’s team.
“She took the leadership role for our team,” said junior catcher Sahvanna Jaquish. “We really had confidence in her.”
LSU’s offense averages 8.05 runs per contest, but was held in check early by Louisiana Tech. But when Hoover came in, everything started to click for the Tigers.
She immediately made an impact striking out the first three batters she faced.
“[The team] feels differently with her on the mound,” Torina said. “She sets a tone. She commands something different by the way she carries herself…We are a different team when she’s out there.”
Entering the bottom half of the sixth LSU was down 6-4, the squad had already scored two in the fifth and Hoover had tallied five strikeouts, the sophomore pitcher was the spark the team needed. All of a sudden the Tigers took control of the game.
LSU strung multiple hits together and set up Jaquish with runners on the corners. LA Tech elected to walk Jaquish loading the bases for freshman shortstop Amber Serrett, who had it 9-for-12 on the weekend thus far.
Serrett was then walked on four straight pitches by Lady Techster relief pitcher Carolina Sanchez cutting the deficit to one. Bailey Landry took it one step further, smashing a RBI-single to knot the ballgame at six.
Senior designated player Kellsi Kloss topped off the rally with a bases clearing three-RBI double, which gave LSU the final 9-6 advantage.
“We stayed calm the whole time,” Kloss said. “With our lineup it’s really about who’s going to do it and not if someone is going to do it… Staying calm and trusting the process and winning every single pitch.”
Ongoing defensive issues nearly caught up to the Tigers.
With the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, junior outfielder Bailey Landry dropped what would have been the second out of the frame, allowing two runs to score. The mistake gave the Lady Techsters a 6-2 lead, from which LSU nearly did not recover.
It the was 22 error on the season for Torina’s squad, and if they don’t reduce the mistakes it could cost them games down the line.
The Tigers will be back in action Sunday at noon for a rematch with Tennessee Tech. LSU defeated the Golden Eagles 8-0 in five innings in their first contest on Friday.