SEATTLE — The sixth-ranked LSU softball team split a pair of games on Saturday afternoon in the University of Washington Tournament, run-ruling Portland State, 8-0, before falling to 14th-ranked Washington, 3-1, in an epic nine-inning battle.
Playing with a make-shift line-up caused by injuries, the Tigers moved to 21-2 on the season and 2-1 in the tournament. LSU is down three players after freshman third baseman Lindsey Hope broke her finger in the preseason, junior starting third baseman Tayl’r Hollis broke her finger last weekend and junior starting second baseman Shannon Stein broke her finger early this week, for which she underwent successful surgery on Thursday.
“It was a good effort for the Tigers in really an overmatched situation,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “(Washington pitcher) Danielle Lawrie completely dominated us for most of the game. We made the most of our opportunities and I actually thought we had the game won.”
The Vikings fell to 4-10 on the year, and 0-3 in the tournament, while the Huskies improved to 14-2 overall and 2-0 in tournament play.
Against Washington, the pair fought to a scoreless stalemate through eight innings before LSU broke through with a run in the top of the ninth. The Tigers had struggled offensively but were able to break through with the first run of the game to take the lead. LSU had fought off a tough Husky team the entire game and was two outs from victory before lead off batter Ashley Charters hit a home run that won the game for Washington.
“We had a chance to win it and we never gave up,” said Girouard. “We battled in front of a great collegiate crowd that was very active. We knew coming in that this was going to be a struggle because Washington left our place last year with two losses and we knew we were jumping into a hornet’s nest. That is exactly what we got today. We’ve just got to let this go and be refocused for tomorrow.”
Killian Roessner led LSU with three hits for the day, including a double and two RBIs. Dee Dee Henderson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, including the then-go-ahead run against Washington in the top of the ninth. Kristen Hobbs also had a multiple hit game with two hits, including a double.
Dani Hofer earned the complete-game win over Portland State to improve to 8-0 on the season. She allowed just one his to pick up her fifth complete-game shutout of the season. She struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
Emily Turner took the loss against Washington, despite pitching a shutout through eight and a third innings. In the end, she allowed three runs, only two of which were earned, on eight hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.
After leaving two on base in the first against the Vikings, LSU got on the board in the top of the second. Roessner led off with a single up the middle. A double to left field by Kristen Hobbs sent Roessner to third. Erika Sluss then walked to load the bases. With one out, Jazz Jackson reached on a fielder’s choice as Andrea Smith was tagged out going to second and Hobbs scored.
With Soto Vanessa Soto on first with two outs in the third, Roessner doubled to center field, scoring Soto from first. Hobbs then walked. A single by Sluss loaded the bases. An RBI single by Smith scored Roessner for the 3-0 lead.
The Tigers added three more in the top of the fourth. With one out, Rachel Mitchell was hit by a pitch. A single by Klein sent Mitchell to second. Soto then doubled to right center, scoring Mitchell from second. On a single to left field by Roessner, Klein scored before Soto came around to score on an error by the left fielder.
LSU closed out the scoring in the top of the fifth. With one out, Jackson reached on a throwing error by the third baseman and advanced to second. Dee Dee Henderson then reached on an infield single as Jackson advanced to third. After Henderson stole second, Mitchell singled to right center to score Jackson and send Henderson to third. Mitchell then stole second and Klein drew a walk to load the bases. On a sacrifice fly by Soto, Henderson scored from third to give LSU the eight-run lead it would need to close out the game early.
Jessi Even started and took the loss for the Vikings to fall to 0-4 on the season. She allowed three runs on six hits with five walks and a strikeout in three and two-thirds innings. Mandy Hill threw an inning and a third, allowing five runs, three earned, on five hits with two walks.
Against Washington, the Huskies had runners in scoring position in each of the first five innings, but Turner was able to pitch her way out of trouble each time unscathed, holding the shutout into the eighth.
In the eighth, the game with to the international tie-breaker rule as each team started with a runner on second base. The Tigers started with Klein on second. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Roessner, but LSU could not push the run across the plate.
Washington began the inning with a runner at second as well and moved her to third on the sacrifice bunt. A great play by Sluss at third on a leaping line drive catch got the second out and saved the game. A close call on a foul ball on the next batter kept the game alive before she grounded out to Soto at second base to send it to the ninth inning.
With Henderson running at second for Soto, Hobbs got the first Tiger base hit of the game on a bunt that sailed just over the head of the charging first base man, allowing Henderson to advance to third. Hobbs stole second to put both runners in scoring position. On a strikeout by Smith, the thrown down to third to attempt to pick off Henderson sailed away from the shortstop covering and allowed Henderson to score for the first run of the game.
In the bottom half of the ninth, Lauren Greer was placed on second. With one out, Dani Stuart walked. Charters then hit a walk-off home run to right field to give Washington the win, 3-1. Danielle Lawrie earned the win to improve to 10-1 on the season. She allowed one unearned run on one hit with 20 strikeouts.
LSU will close out the tournament on Sunday with a single game against Washington at 2 p.m. (CT). The Tigers return home next week for a mid-week game against McNeese State on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on Cox Sports Television in Baton Rouge on cable channel 37. LSU will then hit the road again to open SEC play at Ole Miss next weekend.