After finishing the regular season with a 40-15 record, the LSU Tigers softball team was rewarded with being a regional host. Their first matchup was against Jackson State and the Bayou Bengals’ defense held the visiting Tigers’ offense in check as Beth Torina’s squad came out on top 5-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Raelin Chaffin got the start for LSU and got right to work as she forced a groundout by Mari Stephens. Ka’Liyah Gibson walked but Chaffin struck out Meah Almaraz, and then catcher Maci Bergeron made the throw to second base to Taylor Pleasants to get Gibson out and send it to the bottom of the first.
LSU took the lead at the bottom of the frame. With one out, Ciara Briggs bunted to reach first base and then stole second. Pleasants’ fly out to center field advanced Briggs to third and Raeleen Gutierrez hit the RBI single down the first base line. Ali Newland walked and Mckenzie Redoutey hit a single into right field but Gutierrez was tagged out at home on the play by the throw from the outfield.
Over the next three innings, Chaffin struck out five batters and didn’t surrender a hit. Samiyyah Huckabee walked in the third inning but Stephens lined into a double play for the second and third out.
At the bottom of the fourth, LSU extended its lead as Newland began with a single up the middle and stole second. Redoutey walked and both runners advanced on a ground out by Bergeron. Madyson Manning drove in a run with a sacrifice grounder then Karli Petty hit the RBI single to second to give the Tigers the 3-0 lead.
Gabrielle Willis recorded Jackson State’s first to begin the fifth inning, however, Beija Allen and Julie Lopez popped up for infield fly outs. Kristina Carlson hit the ball right back to the pitcher and was the third out to send it to the bottom of the fifth.
Beth Torina’s squad extended their lead in the sixth as Newland led off with a single off the ref’s leg then stole second. Redoutey walked and then the bases loaded after Bergeron reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Abigail Savoy pinch hit for Manning and got the RBI ground out and Petty did the same as LSU went up by five.
Jackson State couldn’t generate any runs in the seventh and the Bayou Bengals moved into the winner’s bracket with the 5-0 victory over the Tigers.
BIG NUMBER: 0
LSU had a total of 28 batters in Thursday’s matchup and none of them struck out while four were walked. Jackson State had seven batters strike out in the game.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Raelin Chaffin
The starting pitcher for LSU was sharp on Friday as she pitched all seven innings. In that time on the mound, Chaffin struck out seven batters and allowed just two hits in the 5-0 win.
UP NEXT: The LSU Tigers softball team will return Saturday, May 18th for a game against Southern Illinois. First pitch at Tiger Park is scheduled for noon.