Game 2: LSU 6, Hawai’i 5 (9 innings)
HONOLULU — Ashley Applegate provided the game-tying hit in the seventh inning and game-winning RBI on a bases loaded walk in the ninth inning as the No. 19 LSU softball team turned the tables to earn a 6-5 comeback victory over Hawai`i Saturday in the consolation game of the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Down 5-3 with runners on first and second base, Applegate slapped a single into left field to score Jessica Mouse. On the play at the plate, Mouse slid through UH catcher Katie Grimes. The ball squirted away and Kirsten Shortridge, who started the play on first base, alertly came around to score sending the game to extra innings tied at 5-5.
With the bases loaded in the ninth, Applegate drew a four-pitch walk to complete the 6-5 comeback. The last time LSU overcame a four-run deficit in the seventh inning and won came on March 22, 2003 at Georgia.
“I was proud that we found a way to fight through some adversity and win the game,” head coach Yvette Girouard said. “Anything is possible until 21 outs. Ashley has worked extremely hard to get into the starting lineup. She came up with two big at-bats for us and made the most of her opportunity.”
LSU (3-2) received a boost from its pitching and defense in extra innings with the international tiebreaker rule in place.
Brittany Mack racked up six strikeouts in five innings of relief en route to her first collegiate win. She started the eighth inning with back-to-back strikeouts, while Shortridge gunned down a runner at the plate in the ninth inning.
The LSU rally in the seventh was ignited by back-to-back doubles by Anissa Young and Casey Faile.
After a pair of groundouts and down to their final out, Shortridge reached on a throwing error by UH shortstop Julie Franklin that pulled her first basemen Amanda Tauali`i off the bag allowing Faile to score to pull the Tigers within 5-3.
“Brittany did an excellent job in the circle during those two tough tiebreaker innings,” Girouard said. “That’s a very tough job to do, but she came up with some big strikeouts. Kirsten is just a ballplayer and brings different dimensions to the game. She is one of those special players who just find a way to impact a game in multiple ways.”
LSU fired out to a 1-0 lead as Shortridge cranked a 1-0 pitch over the right field fence. Shortridge along with Juliana Santos and Rachel Mitchell picked up All-Tournament Team honors.
Hawai`i (1-4) drew even on unearned run in the third inning and pulled ahead 2-1 on a Claire Warwick RBI-double in the fifth inning.
The Rainbow Wahine extended its advantage to 4-1 as Tanisha Milca added a two-run single in the sixth inning before Warwick scored on a Courtney Hollier fielding error in the seventh inning to make it 5-1.
LSU returns home and opens the new Tiger Park Wednesday at 6 p.m. against McNeese State. The game can be heard live on 104.5/104.9 FM in addition to live video webcast on a subscription basis in the Geaux Zone on LSUSports.net
“The excitement of opening the ballpark and playing at home in-front of our fans is going to be off the charts for us,” Girouard said.
Game 1: UAB 5, LSU 3
HONOLULU — Amanda Allen hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift UAB past the No. 19 LSU softball team 5-3 in a seesaw affair Saturday during bracket play of the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on the University of Hawai`i campus.
“The bottom line is that we didn’t make the plays to win,” head coach Yvette Girouard said. “This offensive lineup should be able to produce before the seventh inning. When you’re the visiting team in a tournament and drift through six innings, it comes back to bight you. It looks like we’re going to have to learn the hard way.”
LSU (2-2) rallied in the top of the frame turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 advantage as Juliana Santos knocked a lead-off single to left field. She came around to score when Allen committed a fielding error on an Anissa Young single to right field.
Ashley Langoni tied the score at 2-2 on a Kayla Orr error at shortstop. A Morgan Russell sacrifice bunt and Casey Faile single put runners on the corners with one out. Ashley Applegate delivered a sacrifice fly to right flied to plate Langoni to push the Tigers ahead 3-2.
Kirsten Shortridge turned in a 3-for-4 effort from the leadoff spot and struck out four in 3.1 innings as the starting pitcher. Casey Faile dropped to 1-1 for LSU, while UAB’s Amber Torres moved to 1-0 picking up the win in relief.
In the fourth inning, Erica Sisson slapped a two-out, two-run single just pass the outstretched glove of shortstop Juliana Santos to give the Blazers (2-2) a 2-0 edge.
The Tigers face the loser of the No. 10 Oklahoma/Hawai`i game at 6 p.m. in the consolation game. The Sooners hold a 8-0 lead through two innings. Live stats will be available on LSUSports.net
“We have to regroup,” Girouard said. “Unlike any other game, (in softball) you have to turn around and play again. It’s a bumpy road right now that we have to figure out.”