With Thursday’s 4-1 loss to top seed Oklahoma, the LSU Tigers were eliminated from the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Oklahoma wasted little time to seize the lead.
LSU’s Sydney Berzon walked both Kasidi Pickering and Ella Parker to start the game. A ground out advanced the runners, and then the bases were loaded as Gabbie Garcia drew a walk. Berzon then hit Cydney Sanders to drive in a run. The inning ended with a back-to-back fielder’s choice that prevented any more runs from crossing home.
Berzon got into trouble again in the fourth.
Sanders drew a leadoff walk, and then pinch runner Chaney Helton advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a groundout by Ailana Adbayani, Helton scored on a single up the middle by Sydney Barker.
The Sooners broke things open in the fifth.
Parker led things off with a double to right center, but Berzon got the next two hitters out. That brought Sanders to the plate, and she took a 3-2 pitch and launched it over the left-centerfield wall.
That was plenty of run support as Oklahoma pitcher, and former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns star Sam Landry, frustrated LSU’s lineup, as she no-hit them through five innings. That all changed in the sixth inning.
Avery Hodge drew a leadoff walk, and then Danieca Coffey reached on a fielder’s choice. Jalia Lassiter singled to put two runners on with one out. Maci Bergeron was walked to load the bases, and Tori Edwards hit a sac fly to drive in a run. Landry got out of the inning with a groundout.
BIG NUMBER: 1
The LSU Tigers managed only one run and one hit in Thursday’s quarterfinal loss as Beth Torina’s team couldn’t muster much offense.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: JALIA LASSITER
LSU’s lone hit on Thursday came courtesy of centerfielder Lassiter, who got a single in the top of the sixth inning to break up a no-hitter by Landry.
UP NEXT: LSU will now wait to find out where it will start NCAA play. The NCAA will unveil regional hosts and teams on Sunday night starting at 6.