No. 11 LSU softball sweeps OSU, FAMU in Tiger Classic; Tigers pitch no-hitter in run-rule win over Rattlers on final day

LSU pitcher Ali Kilponen
LSU pitcher Ali Kilponen(Josh Auzenne/WAFB-TV (custom credit) | WAFB)
Updated: Feb. 9, 2020 at 4:02 PM CST
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - The No. 11 LSU softball team in action Friday, Feb. 7 through Sunday, Feb. 9 for the 10th annual Tiger Classic.

The Tigers welcomed No. 13 Oklahoma State and Florida A&M to Tiger Park for a weekend tournament.

No. 11 LSU (5-0) run-ruled the Rattlers (0-4), 16-0, in five innings on the final day of the Tiger Classic. The Tigers finished with a no-hitter by the three pitchers who took the circle.

Less than 24 hours after being the hero with a walk-off home run to lift the Tigers over the Oklahoma State Cowgirls, shortstop Taylor Pleasants had another impressive day at the plate. She was 3-for-3. She also had three RBI and scored twice.

LSU shortstop Taylor Pleasants
LSU shortstop Taylor Pleasants(Josh Auzenne/WAFB-TV (custom credit) | WAFB)

Ali Kilponen started in the circle for the Tigers and picked up her first win of the season. She gave up no hits or walks and struck out five batters in three innings of work. Taylor Edwards pitched one inning and also kept the Rattlers from putting a ball in play. She had one strikeout and walked one batter. Victoria Abrams kept the hitless streak intact in her one inning in the circle. She also struck out one batter.

RELATED: Softball’s offense shines in no-hitter against FAMU

After a scoreless first inning, LSU exploded in the second with 15 runs. With Amanda Doyle on third base and one out, Taylor Tidwell hit a double down the left field line to send Doyle home for the 1-0 lead. Next, Cait Calland blasted a triple to left field and Tidwell crossed the plate for a 2-0 lead. Next, Ciara Briggs singled through the left side to plate Calland to make it 3-0. The rout was on from there.

The Tigers and Cowgirls battled closely throughout the game but it was LSU making the final play to secure the victory.

LSU (4-0) took the 3-2 win on a walk-off solo home run by Taylor Pleasants in the bottom of the seventh inning.

RELATED: Softball walks off Oklahoma State, 3-2

Maribeth Gorsuch commanded the circle and picked up her first win of the season. She allowed two runs on just two hits and struck out seven batters.

The Cowgirls got on the board first in the third inning. The Tigers responded in the bottom of the inning when Shelbi Sunseri was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Aliyah Andrews crossed home plate to tie it at 1-1.

Sydney Pennington went yard in the top of the sixth to give OSU the 2-1 lead. Once again, LSU responded in the bottom of the inning on a double by Ciara Briggs that plated Taylor Tidwell to tie it up at 2-2.

Then, in the bottom of the seventh with one out and no one on, Pleasants got hold of a pitch and sent it over the left center field wall for the win.

LSU (3-0) came away with another shutout win by beating Florida A&M (0-2), 8-0 in five innings.

RELATED: LSU shuts out Florida A&M 8-0 in five innings

The Tigers got off to a fast start, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning off a Georgia Clark home run that also scored Aliyah Andrews. In the second inning, Taylor Pleasants scored on a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0. In the fourth inning, Ciara Briggs reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing both Taylor Tidwell and Briggs to score to make it 5-0.

Then, in the fifth inning, Tidwell hit a triple to right center that scored Pleasants and Raeleen Gutierrez. Later in the inning, Briggs singled down the left field line to send Tidwell home to make it 8-0.

Shelbi Sunseri picked up her second win of the season. She allowed just one hit in five innings. She struck out six batters.

LSU (2-0) was able to come away with the 1-0 win over Oklahoma State (0-1) in the tournament opener.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. Savannah Stewart got a lead-off single to right centerfield and made it to second on a wild pitch. Georgia Clark hit a single through the left side and Stewart crossed home plate.

RELATED: Softball shuts out Oklahoma State, 1-0, in Tiger Classic opener

Shelby Wickersham allowed four hits in six innings of work. She struck out four batters. Ali Kilponen once again was called upon at the end of the game and picked up her second save of the season.

____________

  • Feb. 7 - LSU vs. Oklahoma State, 6 p.m., SECN+
  • Feb. 8 - LSU vs. Florida A&M, 1:30 p.m., SECN+
  • Feb. 8 - LSU vs. Oklahoma State, 4 p.m., SECN+
  • Feb. 9 - LSU vs. Florida A&M, 1 p.m., SECN+

____________

LSU hosted the tournament after a win against Central Arkansas, 3-2. Junior Shelbi Sunseri started in the circle and was awarded the win. In six innings of work, she gave up two runs and struck out one batter. Ali Kilponen closed the game and earned a save. Sophomore Georgia Clark blasted a solo home run in the third inning.

____________

Keep up with more LSU sports news, even when you’re on the go.

Download the 9Sports app

Also, get additional sports information on our social media platforms.

Like the WAFB Sports Facebook Page and Follow WAFB 9Sports on Twitter

____________

Copyright 2020 WAFB. All rights reserved.