:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59859453/176935515.jpg.0.jpg)
(11) LSU (45-15) defeats (6) Florida State (50-11) 6-5 in the first game of the Tallahassee softball super regional.
Game Recap
Kylee Hanson (27-5) started for FSU. She got the Tigers out in order with a popout and two fly outs. Allie Walljasper (19-6) toed the rubber for LSU. She matched Hanson by getting the Noles out in order with three ground outs.
Amanda Doyle led off the second for LSU with homerun over the left field wall. Hanson bounced back by sandwiching three outs around a double by Michaela Schlattman. Walljasper continued to roll by setting down the Seminoles 1-2-3.
In the third Aliyah Andrews hit a one out single. After a Taryn Antoine strikeout Anna Shelnutt threw out Andrews trying to steal second to end the inning. Cassidy Davis got FSU's first hit with a one out single but she was stranded as Walljasper got two more outs to end the inning.
Hanson set the Tigers down in order in the top of the fourth. Sydney Sherrill worked a one out walk for the Noles but she was stranded at first.
Schlattman hit the first pitch she saw in the fifth over the centerfield wall. Shelbi Sunseri followed that up with a double off the centerfield wall that chased Hanson. Davis came in to relieve her. Claire Weinberger stole third after coming in as a pinch runner. Amber Serrett reached on a rare Jessie Warren error. Andrews walked to load the bases after a Sydney Springfield line out. Warren got a force out at home for the second out but Davis walked Emily Griggs to force in a run. Doyle came up big again by doubling down the line to score two more. Shemiah Sanchez grounded out to third to end the inning with the Tigers up 5-0.
Cali Harrod started off the bottom of the inning with a single. Dani Morgan drove her home with a double to right center. After a Davis strikeout Leslie Farris singled to advance Morgan to third. Morgan scored off of a Warren sac fly. Carsyn Gordon popped out to end the inning.
Davis set down the Tigers 1-2-3 in the sixth. Walljasper bounced back to set FSU down in order in the bottom of the inning.
Becca Schulte started the seventh with a double for LSU. Andrews moved her to third with a ground out. Antoine singled to drive in Schulte. Davis got out of the inning by sandwiching a couple of outs around a Doyle single.
In the bottom of the inning Davis was able to work a two out walk. Leslie Farris beat out an infield single. After a wild pitch advanced Farris to second Warren smoked a ball over the centerfield wall to bring the Noles within a run at 6-5. Tiger coach Beth Torina came to the mound and replaced Walljasper with Carley Hoover. After a tense eight pitch battle Hoover was able to strike out Gordon to end the game.
Post Game
Hanson went four innings giving up 5 hits and 3 runs (2 earned). Davis pitched three innings giving up 4 hits, 3 runs (one earned) and 2 walks.
Warren was 1-3 with a HR and 4 RBI. Morgan was 1-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Farris was 2-2 with a run scored.
With the dramatic homer Warren moves into a tie for 10th all-time in homeruns in NCAA history. She is already the ACC all-time leader in homers.
FSU showed once again what kind of heart they have. However, the Noles simply fell too deep into a hole in this one to recover. Hanson was not at her best today but she wasn't awful. LSU deserves credit for capitalizing on almost all of her mistakes. Davis deserves credit for coming in and pitching well enough to keep the Seminoles within striking distance.
The Noles will try to bounce back tomorrow when Meghan King (21-6) will face Carley Hoover (16-6) in a win or go home situation for FSU. The game is scheduled for Saturday at 5pm (ESPN2).