LSU

LSU softball dominates Arizona 10-5

Chad Washington
Gannett Louisiana

BATON ROUGE – Despite the crazy antics in the dugout and after the games, the LSU softball team has been focused on two goals all season long. And now, it’s down to one last one.

After a three-year absence, LSU is on its way to Oklahoma City. But this time, the Tigers are thinking about winning it, not just sightseeing.

The Tigers beat Arizona 10-5 to win their Super Regional punched their ticket to the Women’s College World Series, which starts on Thursday.

“I’m so proud of this team. I feel like starting back in the fall, this team was on a mission and worked so hard,” LSU head coach Beth Torina said. “They really earned this moment today. If we won or lost, I would have still been proud to be the coach of this team. I’ve truly enjoyed every minute I’ve been with this team this year.”

A four-run first inning boosted LSU, along with a stellar hitting performance by Sandra Simmons and a strong effort by pitchers Allie Walljasper and Carley Hoover lifted the Tigers past a tough Wildcat squad that boasted one of the nation’s top offenses this season.

“I was confident with my team behind me the whole time today,” Walljasper said. “They were backing me up the whole game and it was very exciting to see the outcome of the game.”

Simmons provided a lot of that excitement as she was 3-for-3 with a home run, a triple, three runs scored and five RBIs in the game.

“Today, we came out with a different energy and it was amazing,” Simmons said. “Everything was done through teammates and positive energy and encouragement. Just uplifting, knowing that we’re going to win this game today.”

The LSU bats jumped on Arizona pitcher in the first inning, as the Tigers loaded the bases on a single and two walks. Simmons singled home Bianka Bell and Bailey Landry, then Constance Quinn doubled home Sahvanna Jaquish and Simmons to put the Tigers up 4-0.

Arizona (49-13) got a couple runs back on a RBI groundout by Katiyana Mauga and a sacrifice fly by Chelsea Goodacre.

But LSU regained the four-run lead in the third as Simmons hit a blast to right field for a two-run home run that scored Jaquish to make it 6-2. In the next inning, Bell singled home A.J. Andrews and Simmons hit a sacrifice fly that scored Landry to make it 8-2.

“It’s so fun to watch Sandra succeed because she works so hard,” Torina said. “She puts in as much time as anybody on this team.”

Arizona had a chance to claw back into the game in the fifth inning by loading the bases and scoring two runs on two walks by Walljasper, but Hoover came in relief and got two strikeouts to end the Wildcat threat.

“Carley is a great competitor, and I think she truly thrives in those moments,” Torina said. “She loves those moments, and it’s so easy to forget that she is just a freshman.”

The Tigers broke the game open in the seventh, as Simmons hit a leadoff triple, followed by a RBI double by Quinn. Senior pinch hitter Dylan Supak singled home Quinn in her final game at Tiger Park to make it 10-5.

LSU (42-19) will face Auburn in the first round of the WCWS on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium-OGE Energy Field. Five other SEC teams made it to the championship round of the NCAA softball tournament in top-seed and defending national champion Florida, Alabama and Tennessee.

LSU will make its fourth appearance in the Women’s College World Series and second in the last four years. The Tigers made it to Oklahoma City in 2001, 2004 and 2012.

The Tigers lost all three times at OKC, but with a team-first attitude and experience facing most of the field, LSU has the confidence of a serious contender for a championship.

“This team truly understands the team concept,” Torina said. “Everyone has a role and plays it to the best of their ability. There’s never any hard feelings or selfishness with this group. They’re so selfless, whatever we asked to do, whether it’s to hit in the three-hole or pitch or stand in the dugout and cheer, they’re going to do it to the absolute best of their ability. They’ve done it all year long and that’s truly the reason why we’re playing in the final week of the year.”