The LSU Tigers started their Super Regional Series at Stanford with a bang, but it ended with a whimper.
The Tigers run-ruled Stanford 11-1 in five innings on Friday night in Game One, knocking out college softball’s best pitcher NiJaree Canady in the fourth inning as she gave up six runs on ten hits.
But Canady and Stanford came back with a vengeance in Game Two beating the Tigers 3-0.
That set up a winner take all game Sunday night. It was scoreless into the fifth inning, but the Cardinal erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning and won the game with a home run in the sixth inning for an 8-0 run rule victory.
It was a frustrating 5th inning. The Tigers had the bases loaded in the top of the 5th inning. McKenzie Redoutey hit a fly ball to shallow left field. Stanford left fielder Kyra Chan caught it for the second out and threw out pinch runner Savanna Bedell at home to end the LSU threat.
In the bottom half of the 5th inning, River Mahler led off with a triple down the right field line. Redoutey dove for it and the ball got past her. Mahler would score on a fielder’s choice to make it 1-0 Stanford.
LSU’s starting pitcher Sydney Berzon tried to keep at 1-0, but Stanford started figuring her out and loaded the bases against her in the 5th inning. Ava Gall hit a ground ball that looked like it hit one of the runners in the calf, but the umps didn’t see it.
LSU was out of video review challenges, so the play stood and then the flood gates opened as the Cardinal scored seven runs in that inning and ended the game with a home run in the sixth for a run rule victory.
Tough ending for coach Beth Torina’s squad. LSU has not been to the Women’s College World Series since 2017 and this was the Tiger best shot since that season, if you don’t count the COVID cancelled season.
The Tigers had the pitching with Berzon and Kelley Lynch. They also had several veteran position players led by Ciara Briggs and Taylor Pleasants, who will go down as two all-time greats in LSU softball history.
It looked like a special season as LSU started 24-0, but shortly before the win streak was snapped, starting third baseman Danieca Coffey went down with a season-ending knee injury and the team was never really the same.
They played just above .500 softball the rest of the way and missed out on a national seed, which would allow them to host a super-regional instead of traveling across the country.
It will be a little bit of a rebuilt next season and LSU will have to contend with two of the nation’s best softball programs coming into the SEC in Texas and Oklahoma.
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