OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — An error in the top of the eighth proved to be the deciding factor as the third-ranked LSU Tigers fell to Stanford, 2-1, in the third game of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.
“I have to give credit to Stanford,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “They got a couple of hits to score key runs. The play at the fence by Mendoza, I think, saved the game for them. I think if it would have gone out it would have changed the outcome for us. We, however, did not play well tonight, and this is a game of inches. It is a little disappointing to out hit your opponent and still lose. The girls played hard and that is all you can ever ask of them.”
“We were making good plays in pre-game, and in my mind I knew my team was ready to play,” said Stanford head coach John Rittman. “We had a bunch of people step up and that is characteristic of our play all season.”
LSU is now 3-2 in extra-inning games this season, taking the game to overtime with the score at 1-1.
In the top of the eighth, Jessica Mendoza hit a gapper double to right center to send home Ramona Shelburne, who reached first on a second game error by Christy Connor at first. The error proved to be fatal for LSU as the runner scored the winning run of the game.
The game went back-and-forth the first two innings, with both team getting hits, but not being able to produce. Stanford put pressure on LSU in the bottom of the second with back-to-back hits from Maureen LeCocq and Shelburne. However, the Tigers kept them scoreless with fly outs to left field and center field.
Stanford struck first in the top of the fourth with a lead-off home run by Sarah Beeson to center field, but the Tigers answered back with a run in the bottom of the fourth.
Second baseman April Janzen beat out an infield single to lead off the LSU half of the inning, and Stephanie Hastings sacrificed her over to second, which turned out to be a crucial play. First baseman Christy Connor followed with a long hit to center field that was caught just over the fence by Mendoza. Connor was credited with a sacrifice fly as Janzen tagged up at second and took off, rounded third and scored to tie the game at 1-1.
“I was determined not to let that ball leave the park,” said Mendoza. “I was not fully aware of the runner when I made the catch, however.”
“I was looking at coach to make sure that she wanted me to go, ” said Janzen. “I was just heading down the base line to get that first run after that. There was not much running through my mind. I just wanted to get to the plate.”
Tiger Julie Wiese doubled to right center in the bottom of the fifth, but she was thrown out by Jessica Mendoza trying to advance home on Aleshia Perry’s single to end the inning.
Stanford also threatened in the sixth inning when Mendoza was hit by the pitch and stole second with just one out. Beeson lined back to pitcher Sneed who quickly turned around to catch Mendoza off the bag at second for the double play.
The Cardinals had runners on second and third in the top of the seventh when Jenni Shideler attempted to lay down the suicide bunt. However, catcher Jennifer Schuelke was ready and tagged out the runner at home.
The loss snapped Britni Sneed’s 11-game winning streak. She now stands at 35-6 for the season. She allowed six hits, walked one and sat down seven Cardinal batters.
Dana Sorensen allowed seven hits and also walked one and sat down seven on the evening to improve to 26-4 on the season.
Janzen led the Tigers at the plate with three hits on the night. The rest of the Tiger hits were scattered between Dee Douglas, Erin Johnson, Julie Wiese and Aleshia Perry. Wiese hit her 10th double of the season, and Johnson is now 9-for-21 in the WCWS after making two previous appearances with Southern Mississippi.
The Tigers will face Iowa at 1:30 on Saturday in the Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium. The LSU Sports Network will carry the game on 107.3 FM and over the Internet at www.LSUsports.net.