OKLAHOMA CITY –No. 5 LSU held off a late rally from No. 6 Alabama for a 5-3 in the final elimination game on Saturday evening at the Women’s College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Tigers (52-13) scored five runs in the first two innings and freshman Allie Walljasper provided six strong innings in the circle as LSU advances to tomorrow’s semifinals to face No. 3 Michigan at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Crimson Tide’s season comes to a close at 48-15.
After allowing a run in the first, Walljasper cruised into the seventh inning before getting into a little trouble. Following a pair of singles, she was relieved by classmate Carley Hoover. A sacrifice fly and a wild pitch allowed the tying run to come to the plate, but Hoover was able to induce a soft grounder to first base and secure the win.
Walljasper (16-5) went six-plus innings, allowed three runs on six hits with one walk. Hoover struck out one and walked one to earn her fifth save of the season.
Alabama jumped on top with a quick run in the top of the first on a RBI single by Maris Runyon, but LSU would respond with three in the bottom half of the frame and two more in the second to surge ahead 5-1.
Sahvanna Jaquish evened the contest with hard RBI single up the middle and Kellsi Kloss followed with a run-scoring double to left center. She would score the third run of the inning when the throw was mishandled by the cutoff then thrown wildly back into the outfield.
The Tigers added two more on Bailey Landry’s roller through the right side, plating Emily Griggs and Constance Quinn.
Landry finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
Sydney Littlejohn suffered the defeat for Alabama. She allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits with a strikeout and two walks in three-plus innings. Leslie Jury came in a shut down the Tigers over her three innings of relief. She struck out four, walked one and allowed just two hits.
Marisa Runyon finished 2-for-4 with a RBI, while Demi Turner was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
-- Photo courtesy of @LSUSoftball
