The LSU softball team began the Purple and Gold Challenge on a high note on Friday night when they run-ruled Michigan State 9-0 in five innings. On Saturday, the Tigers took on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. The Vermilion and White were coming off a 6-1 win over the Spartans. It took extra innings, but the Tigers improved to 10-4 with the 2-1 win in 10. The Cajuns dropped to 9-5 with the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The first inning was very similar for both teams; the first two hitters flew out, and the third hitter grounded out to keep the game scoreless. Cecilia Vasquez recorded the first hit of the game in the second inning with a double into left-center field, but was stranded after Cece Cellura struck out Lily Knox for the third out.
LSU took an early lead at the bottom of the second as Tori Edwards led the inning with a walk. That was the first of two walks allowed by starting pitcher Sage Hoover in the frame. Edwards put herself in scoring position by stealing second base and advancing to third on a throwing error by Louisiana’s catcher, Kennedy Marceaux. Alix Franklin struck out, and Ally Hutchins grounded out before Kylee Edwards hit an RBI single into center field to put the Tigers ahead by one.
Louisiana responded at the top of the third with its own run. With one out, Mia Liscano reached on a fielding error in left field, advancing her to second base. Dayzja Williams hit a sacrifice bunt to move Liscano to third, and Marceaux finished the setup with a single up the middle to tie the game at one.
Maci Bergeron doubled at the bottom of the third with two out and would be left on base after Hoover struck out Tori Edwards to end the inning.
For Louisiana, Miki Watts pinch hit for Knox and replaced her as the team’s right fielder in the fourth. The Tigers also threatened to score at the bottom of the frame as Char Lorenz and Kylee Edwards recorded back-to-back two-out hits. It would be for not as Rylie Johnson flew out in center field to end the inning.
At the top of the seventh, the Cajuns had a chance to take their first lead of the game. Vasquez recorded her second hit of the game to leadoff the inning. She then advanced to second and third base on sacrifice groundouts by Otto and Watts. Vasquez was left stranded on base after Madyson Manning grounded out to second base.
After a pair of outs by pinch-hitter Maddox McKee and Jalia Lassiter, Sierra Daniel hit a clutch triple into right-center field. Hoover came back to force extra innings as Bergeron flew out in center field.
Haley Hart made a clutch diving grab in the outfield to send the game into the ninth, and in that ninth, Hart hit a triple into right-center field. The ball bounced out of Lassiter’s glove on the play, and Tiger head coach Beth Torina decided to take Cellura off the mound in favor of Jayden Heavener. Emily Smith was hit by a pitch with Erin Ardoin pinching running for her. Ardoin was caught leaving her base too early, and Otto grounded out to keep the game tied.
Heavener began to catch fire in the 10th as she struck out all three batters she faced, keeping the door open for LSU. At the bottom of the frame, Lorenz walked, and Kylee Edwards walked it off with an RBI triple, winning the game for the Tigers 2-1.
BIG NUMBER: 12
There was an abundance of contact on Saturday, with the ball being put into play numerous times. That led to a shortage of strikeouts, with a total of 12 between all three pitchers. Louisiana’s Sage Hoover had six, and LSU’s Cece Cellura and Jayden Heavener recorded the other six.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kylee Edwards
Edwards was crucial for LSU on Saturday, going 3/4 from the plate and was responsible for both of LSU’s runs. The Tigers would get it done in extra innings, 2-,1 to improve to 10-4 on the season; the Cajuns dropped to 9-5 with the loss.
UP NEXT: The LSU softball team will close out the Purple and Gold Challenge with a couple of more games this weekend. Later tonight, the Tigers will face the Michigan State Spartans, and then on Sunday, they’ll take on the Howard Bison at about 1:30 PM. Louisiana will return to action at noon on Sunday, February 22nd, for a doubleheader in Lake Charles in the Cajun AC Louisiana Clash. Their opponents will be Missouri at 11 AM and Houston tentatively at 1:30 PM.