Softball Shutout in Super Regional Opener
LSU faces elimination Friday
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It was a battle of pitchers in the opener of the Baton Rouge Super Regional that saw Florida State take a 1-0 lead over LSU in the series thanks to a 1-0 win.
After a solid offensive showing in the regional, the Tiger bats were silenced by Kathryn Sandercock who allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out a pair in the complete game shutout effort.
It wasn’t as if the Tigers were totally devoid of chances. In the bottom of the seventh, Amanda Doyle hit a bullet right at FSU third baseman Sydney Sherrill that had it gotten past Sherrill would have scored Ciara Briggs from second base with just one out. Earlier in the game Taylor Pleasants had a long fly ball that died on the warning track but would have put the Tigers ahead.
The teams: No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 16 Washington
What to watch for: The Sooners are one of the most explosive, dangerous offenses in the country. They rank No. 1 in the country in home runs, slugging, batting average and more. They showed it this past weekend with 24 runs scored against Wichita State and production from their entire lineup. They hit six home runs in the regional finals. Nicole Mendes had a seven-RBI performance on Friday, and freshman Tiare Jennings has been huge. You cannot stop this offense.
But they are going up against Washington, one of the best defenses in the country, Pac-12 defensive player of the year Sis Bates and Gabbie Plain, who ranks in the top three in the country in strikeouts. This is now a different story here than what OU faced in the regionals. The Huskies took down Michigan twice to win the regional final and had an explosive fourth inning offensively in game seven with seven runs scored in one inning.
LSU now moves on to the NCAA Super Regionals for the sixth straight season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana struck first as Ciara Bryan led off the game by taking a pitch from Ali Kilponen and sending it over the right field wall.
The Ragin’ Cajuns looked poised to score even more runs in the opening frame.
After Bryan’s homer, Kaitlyn Alderink drew a walk and then Jade Gortarez reached on a dropped fly ball in right field.
Justice Milz would strike out and then Alderink was caught stealing.
Kiponen would walk the next two batters (Alissa Dalton and Karly Heath) to load the bases. Kiponen would get out of the jam by striking out Kendall Talley.