It’s Tourney Time, LSU Set For Baton Rouge Regional

JSU won its first SWAC Tournament title in 13 years and is currently on a six-game winning streak. Jackson State is batting .273 with 364 hits, and leads the nation with 3.24 stolen bases per game (163 total). JSU has a 4.39 ERA in the circle and 119 strikeouts in 328.1 innings. 

Infielder Jace Jackson has a team-high .351 batting average and 45 RBIs and has logged 54 hits. Freshman outfielder Ka’Liyah Gipson follows with a .339 average but paces the team with 56 hits and 40 stolen bases.  

Pitcher Victoria Salazar is the club’s ace with a 13-9 record and 3.65 ERA behind 70 strikeouts in 172.2 innings pitched and has four solo shutouts this season and one save.

LSU and JSU last played each other in 2014. In the last three meetings, LSU has won 8-0, and in the series, LSU has outscored JSU 62-1.

The Golden Bears are ranked No. 21 in the NFCA Poll and have won four of its last six games despite being on a two-game losing streak. Cal bats .306 on the year and has 431 hits, including an impressive 77 home runs. Cal has a 3.10 ERA on the mound and has struck out 273 batters in 361.2 frames. The defense has turned 30 double plays this season.

Infielder Tatum Anzaldo leads the team with a .408 batting average, 69 hits, and 19 stolen bases. Five other batters follow her with a .310 batting average or better, including infielder Acacia Anders’ .364 average on 60 hits and 40 RBIs that leads the team. Infielder Elon Butler (.361) and catcher Lagi Quiroga (.311) lead Cal with 16 home runs each.

Pitchers Haylei Archer (11-6) and Randi Roelling (13-7) pitch most of the innings for the Golden Bears. Archer has a 2.86 ERA with a team-high 96 strikeouts in 122.1 frames, and Roelling has a 3.41 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 121.0 innings. 

All 11 games played between LSU and Cal have been at neutral locations, including three in the Women’s College World Series. LSU won the last meeting, a 5-1 decision in Feb. 2020 in Fullerton, Calif.

SIU will make its 15th NCAA Tournament appearance and has reached the Big Dance for the second consecutive season and the third time in four seasons. The Salukis enter the tournament on a nine-game winning streak and have a dominant 1.58 ERA, ranking No. 4 in the nation. They have 15 shutouts, which ranks No. 10 in NCAA Division I softball. Offensively, SIU has a .278 average on 361 hits.

Pitcher Maddia Groff is 29-3 in the circle with a 0.81 ERA, has gathered 239 strikeouts in 206.1 innings, and holds opposing batters to a .198. She also has nine shutouts and two saves this season.

Five Salukis bat .300 or better, beginning with infielder Jackie Lis, who has a .353 average with 51 hits, 34 RBIs, 34 walks, and 16 home runs, all leading the team. Infielder Sidney Jones (.321) and outfielder Emma Austin (.310) have 45 hits, and outfielder Bailey Caylor (.304) has 34 hits.

LSU and SIU met once in 2007 when the Salukis defeated the Tigers 1-0 in Tallahassee, Fla.