LSU Run-Rules Stanford to Win Game 1 of the Super Regional

Beth Torina’s squad is one win away from OKC

Thanks to a season-high 16 hits and three home runs, the LSU softball team (44-15) dominated Stanford 11-1 to win game one of their Super Regional series Friday night in Palo Alto.

“Our offensive staff had an incredible plan tonight, and they had our team well-prepared,” Beth Torina said. “I think our preparation for games is a strength for us, and we take great pride in approaching each situation, especially when playing on this stage. There are 16 teams left, and we will do everything we can to keep moving forward.”

Sydney Berzon got the start inside the circle for LSU and was efficient. She needed less than 100 pitches to go all five innings, and limited the Cardinal to one run on three hits. Berzon improves to 20-8 on the season.

Berzon had more than enough run support Friday night as the LSU bats continue to peak at the right moment. Five Tigers had multiple hits including Taylor Pleasants and McKenzie Redoutey both going 3-3 at the plate; Raeleen Gutierrez also had a three-hit night. Kelley Lynch had a season-best five RBI, while Ali Newland collected three.

The Tigers jumped on Stanford early as LSU scored three runs in the first inning. Kelley Lynch hit an RBI double to left field, and Gutierrez’s first hit of the night drove in two to make it 3-0. Here’s the part where I mention LSU scored all three runs before the Cardinal could even get one out. Stanford would get its one and only run in the home half of the first inning.

The fifth inning is where the LSU offense went nuclear.

LSU scored eight runs in the fifth and hit three homers in the inning. Newland launched a three-run shot to right field, and LSU catcher Maci Bergeron followed with a solo shot of her own to make it a 7-1 game. Bergeron’s gone deep in back-to-back games.

If you’ve been watching LSU’s baseball team lately you’ll know that they’ve been hitting a lot of grand slams as of late. Well apparently Tommy White and Bear Jones inspired the Softball Tigers because Kelley Lynch hit a grand slam of her own for her first homer of the 2024 season.

LSU sent 13 batters to the plate in the fifth inning and scored eight runs off of nine hits, including those three home runs. Add that all up and you have LSU one win away from its first Women’s College World Series appearance since 2017.

Game Two of the Super Regional is scheduled for 8:00 P.M. and that game will be carried on ESPN2.