COLUMBUS, Ga. — Angela Johnson knocked a game-winning home run over the left field fence in the top of the seventh inning to give the 18th-ranked CrimsonTide a 3-2 upset over No. 5 LSU in the semifinals of the NFCA Leadoff Classic Gold Bracket.
The Crimson Tide had fallen behind 2-0 after four innings, but rallied for a two-run fifth to tie the game and set up Johnson’s heroics.
With a no-hitter into the fifth, LSU pitcher Kristin Schmidt saw it broken up on a Johnson single to left. Johnson, who had Alabama’s only two hits, then beat the throw to second as Leah White reached on a sacrifice bunt.
Suzanne Olcott reached on a fielder’s choice as Johnson was forced out at third. The inning seemed to be in control when Jenn Reach grounded to shortstop with two outs, but Blair Smith’s throw to first sailed, allowing White to come around and score.
Attempting to intentionally walk Jackie McClain, Schmidt let a pitch get away from her, which brought Olcott home from third, tying the game at 2-2.
Jennifer Wright improved her record to 2-2 with the win after allowing two runs on nine hits. She struck out four and walked four. Britni Sneed, who came on in relief in the fifth inning, took the loss to fall to 4-4.
The Tigers left 11 runners on base, including the tying run at third in the bottom of the seventh. Julie Wiese was the offensive star for LSU, slapping two doubles while scoring one run.
LSU took a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. April Janzen got things started with a single up the middle. A Christy Connor walk placed runners on first and second with one out. After a pass ball moved the runners to second and third, Janzen came home on Erin Johnson’s ground out to first.
In the fourth inning, LSU had a chance to blow the game open, but managed just one run. Julie Wiese led off with a double to left field. A Blair Smith single moved runners to the corners. Jessica Braggins’ pinch-hit single to right scored Wiese and send Smith to third.
Aleshia Perry re-entered for Braggins as a runner and subsequently stole second. Trena Peel then grounded to second baseman Suzanne Olcott who fired home to catcher Macy Prejean, forcing Smith to head back to third. Prejean’s throw to third baseman White beat Smith back to the bag for the second out.
Janzen singled to load the bases, but Connor grounded out to third to end the inning.