BATON ROUGE — Kristen Hobbs capped her career weekend with a grand slam in the top of the ninth inning that gave the seventh-ranked LSU softball team a 7-2 win over Memphis in the championship game of the 2007 Easton Tiger Classic on Sunday afternoon at Tiger Park.
The Tigers (6-0) earned a berth in the championship game by shutting out Middle Tennessee State, 2-0, in the first game of the day. Memphis was a 1-0 winner over Missouri to send it to the title game. The Easton Tiger Classic championship gave LSU its sixth title in the eight years the tournament has been held as the Tigers have now won 17 straight Tiger Classic games dating back to 2004.
For her efforts, which included going 8-for-15 from the plate with four home runs, nine RBIs and five runs scored, Hobbs was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The senior catcher from Royal Palm Beach, Fla., had previously recorded only two home runs in her three seasons with the Tigers. She was limited to just five game appearances last season after having Tommy John surgery, but made her presence felt in the season opening tournament this year.
“It’s a fairy tale story with Hobbs,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “In reality, she will probably have to go in and have another surgery when this is done. We made the decision not to redshirt her and to finish her career this year and get whatever we could get out of her right now because her shoulder is almost done. She’s just gutting it out now.
“We’re not quite sure what was different for her this weekend,” Girouard continued.” We do have a new strength coach and I couldn’t believe the pop in our bat. I thought we were going to hit some home runs because the bats have been exploding, but I have to honestly say that I didn’t expect this out of Hobbs.”
In addition, Emily Turner, Jazz Jackson and Vanessa Soto earned all-tournament honors for LSU. Other members of the all-tournament team were Kathy Masterson of Missouri, Justine Cerda of Middle Tennessee State, and Jenna Kubesch, Leila Dolfo and Heather Motto of Memphis.
Dani Hofer earned the complete-game win against Memphis to improve to 2-0 on the season. The sophomore allowed just one earned run on two hits with six walks and 14 strikeouts, one shy of her career best. She took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, despite giving up an unearned run, before giving up her first hit of the game, a home run to Heather Mott with one out that tied the game at two. Over the final two innings, she gave up only one other hit, a double to Bridgette McNulty with two outs in the eighth, but Hofer struck out the next batter, Kubesch, to end the inning.
“When you have a no-hitter and are tied, then there are some things you need to correct,” said Girouard. “We’re making the million dollar catch and the nickel throw right now. That is something that we need to correct, and we will and we’ll be fine.”
LSU got on the board first in the top of the second inning. Quinlan Duhon led off with a single to right center field. With Dee Dee Henderson running for her at first, Henderson promptly stole second. With two outs, Andrea Smith doubled to left field to score Henderson from second.
In the bottom of the third, Memphis tied it up. With one out, Leandrea Hines reached on a throwing error by Tayl’r Hollis that allowed Hines to move all the way to third. With two outs and runners on the corners, a pick off attempt at third got away from Hollis, allowing Hines to even the score.
LSU once again took the lead in the top of the sixth. Duhon led off the inning with a first-pitch home run that cleared the center field fence. It was her second home run of the tournament. Unfortunately, Memphis countered with a home run by Mott that tied the score. The game remained knotted at two until the top of the ninth inning.
“I told the team in the last inning that Dani was out of gas and Emily was tight, so they needed to win this one for Dani right now,” said Girouard.” They then went out and produced some runs.”
With one out, Leslie Klein drew a walk. A single down right field line by Soto sent Klein to third. Duhon was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hollis drew a walk that allowed Klein to score and give LSU the 3-2 lead.
Hobbs then came up to the plate. On the 10th pitch of the at-bat, she drove a monster shot over the left field fence that cleared the batting cages behind the field. It was the fourth home run of the weekend for Hobbs and the second grand slam of the weekend after Soto hit one against Centenary on Saturday evening.
“God works in mysterious ways and he usually rewards good people and I believe that Hobbs has an angel on her shoulder that is smiling at her right now,” said Girouard.
Nicki Johnson started and took the loss to fall to 2-1 for Memphis. She allowed seven runs on nine hits with eight walks and four strikeouts. Dolfo came in briefly to start the seventh inning, but walked both batters she faced before Johnson re-entered the circle to close out the contest.
In the first game of the day for LSU, the Tigers shut out Middle Tennessee State. LSU recorded only two runs, despite nine hits, but held the Blue Raiders scoreless on just three hits.
Turner earned the complete-game win to improve to 3-0 on the year. Along with just the three hits allowed, she walked three and struck out 11, her season best, while facing just seven over the minimum and not giving up an extra base hit.
The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the second. With one out, Hobbs singled through the left side. With two outs, Erika Sluss singled deep in the hole at shortstop and advanced to second on a throwing error, allowing Hobbs to take third. A bunt single by Jackson allowed Hobbs to score from third.
In the bottom of the third, LSU closed out the scoring in the game. The Tigers got a one-out single up the middle by Klein, who advanced to second on a ground out by Soto. A double to right center by Duhon scored Klein from second. Duhon finished the weekend with two doubles and two home runs for LSU.
Lindsey Vander Lugt took the complete-game loss for Middle Tennessee State to fall to 1-2 on the year. She allowed two runs, one earned, on nine hits with two strikeouts.
The Tigers return to action on Wednesday as LSU hosts Louisiana-Monroe at 6 p.m. Fans will be able to win great prizes throughout the contest with “Sweetheart Scratch Tickets” as part of Swinging Sweethearts Valentine’s Night.
Next weekend, the Tigers will travel to Houston for the Crowne Plaza Invitational. LSU will take on Houston, which knocked off nationally ranked Michigan on Sunday, along with Southern Illinois, which is receiving votes for the poll. In addition, the Tigers will face Missouri State, Texas State and Indiana in the three-day round robin tournament.
All-Tournament Team
Most Valuable Player: Kristen Hobbs, LSU
Emily Turner, LSU
Jazz Jackson, LSU
Vanessa Soto, LSU
Kathy Masterson, Missouri
Justine Cerda, Middle Tennessee State
Jenna Kubesch, Memphis
Leila Dolfo, Memphis
Heather Motto, Memphis
Game 11: LSU def. Middle Tennessee St., 2-0
Game 12: Memphis def. Missouri, 7-3
MEMPHIS ELIMINATES MISSOURI, 7-3, ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
BATON ROUGE — Powered by a pair of Heather Mott home runs, the Memphis Tigers beat Missouri, 7-3, to advance to the Easton Tiger Classic Championship Game.
Mott went 2-for-2 at the plate with her home runs coming first to center and then to right field, and could have done even more damage had she not been walked in her final two at-bats. She was ably supported at the plate by strong offensive performances from teammates Leandra Hines (2-for-3) and Lindsay Kelso (2 RBI’s).
Jenna Kubesch (2-1) pitched all seven innings for Memphis (4-1), striking out eight and giving up seven hits to earn the win. Jana Hainey (0-2) started for Missouri (2-3) but lasted just 5.1 innings, giving up four runs on six hits to pick up her second loss of the season.
Memphis’ win sets up an all-Tiger final in the Easton Tiger Classic, as they are set to take on hosts LSU at 2 p.m. CST in the Championship Game.
Game 13: LSU def. Memphis, 7-2 (9)