LSU softball had the advantage over Stanford heading into game two of the NCAA Super Regionals. The Tigers were the home team in this matchup but NiJaree Canady shut down LSU’s offense as the Cardinal tied the series with a 3-0 win on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After a great batting performance on Friday night, Kelley Lynch got the start on the mound for LSU on Saturday. The first two innings for Lynch went well, striking out a couple of batters and not allowing a hit until the third.
NiJaree Canady started again for Stanford despite the rough performance on Friday and was locked in, not allowing a hit in the first four innings, and striking out five batters.
Stanford got on the board first at the top of the third as leadoff Taryn Kern hit a two-out triple that bounced off the top of the right field wall. Kyra Chan followed that hit with an RBI double into center field to put the Cardinal up one.
LSU got their first hit at the bottom of the fifth as Ali Newland hit a double into right-center field. Cannady then retired Maci Bergeron, Hannah Carson, and Karli Petty to end the inning.
After another scoreless inning by LSU, Stanford extended their lead at the top of the seventh. River Mahler led off the inning with a triple deep in left-center field, and then Emily Jones drove in the run with a double down the right-field line. After a couple of outs, Chan singled to bring home Jones and put the Cardinal up three heading into the bottom of the seventh.
With one last chance, Newland walked after Pleasants grounded out but Bergeron fouled out after to put the Tigers on their last out. Head coach Beth Torina had Maddox McKee pinch-hit for Madyson Manning but the freshman couldn’t come up with a clutch hit and struck out as Stanford came out on top 3-0 to force a game three in the NCAA Super Regional.
BIG NUMBER: 2
A couple of triples in the third and seventh innings helped produce a couple of runs for Stanford as they got the game-two win over LSU to keep their season alive and force a game three.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: NiJaree Canady
Canady had a bounce-back performance on Saturday night as she allowed just two hits and struck out nine of LSU’s batters as Stanford got the 3-0 win to tie the series.
UP NEXT: Game three between the Tigers and the Cardinal is set for Sunday, May 26th. First pitch at Boyd & Jill Smith Stadium is set for 8:30 p.m.