Six players leave LSU from a lineup that faced up against one of the nation’s top pitchers in the super regional.
LSU was shut out twice in a total of 13 innings on Saturday and Sunday by Stanford sophomore NiJaree Canady, after scoring six runs and putting up 10 hits against her on Friday.
The final score of Sunday’s convincing 8-0 loss was misleading. Up until the fifth inning, LSU was scoreless.
With one out and the bases loaded, they had a great chance to score in the top half of that inning. But, after pinch runner Savanna Bedell tagged up on a fly ball by McKenzie Redoutey, he was thrown out at the plate, finishing the inning and giving LSU the lead.
About Canady, Torina remarked, “It was an intense matchup.” “She behaved like she usually does in other games.
In Game 3, we had her completely beat. It may have been a very different result if we had been able to score when the bases were loaded. She could have lost it after just one run.
“We were unable to make progress or catch a break. It seemed as though we were playing on Sunday what they were playing on Friday.
The home team scored seven goals in a terrifying bottom of the fifth. With two outs, a batted ball reached a Stanford baserunner, but the umpires decided LSU could not have played the ball for an out.
With the Tigers down 1-0, the Cardinals responded with two run-scoring singles and a three-run home run to put the game beyond reach instead of an inning-ending out.
According to Torina, “they (the umpires) agreed that it hit the runner, but they didn’t think we had a play on the ball.” “I advised them to view the year’s film featuring second baseman Karli Petty. She makes 12 more fieldings of that ball. The call doesn’t sit well with me.
“We had other chances to take action during the game, but that was a significant change in momentum. If we get that play, we return to the dugout with a 1-0 lead.
Torina will quicken the transition to 2025 once the Tigers depart on Monday. Five of the six players in the Tigers’ six-player class are ranked in Extra Elite 100 by Extra Inning Softball, which ranks the class third in the country.
According to Torina, “We’ll be looking for additions in the portal, too.” “During this time of year, everyone does.”
Mainstays like first baseman Raeleen Gutierrez, outfielders Ciara Briggs and Ali Newland, and shortstop Taylor Pleasants are gone.
Except for a few due to an injury sustained during her junior season, Pleasants has started every game in the previous five years.
High caliber hitters and defenders in Newland and Briggs were there, and in 2024, Gutierrez enjoyed a career-high season at bat.
Although it was difficult to watch the seniors depart, Torina remarked, “I don’t know if there would have ever been a spot I would have been OK to see them go.” “No matter when it happened, it was going to be difficult.”
Leave a Reply