The Daily Nole

FSU Softball Shut Down by LSU’s Walljasper

Larry Novey/FSU athletics

Entering Saturday, No. 4 national seed Florida State had not lost a softball game all season long at JoAnn Graf Field. That streak ended on Saturday and LSU starting pitcher Allie Walljasper was a big reason why.

Walljasper was one out away from a no-hitter on Saturday before FSU’s Sydney Broderick singled up the middle with two outs in the top of the seventh. Walljasper was able to retire Ellie Cooper the very next hitter to complete the shutout in a 1-0 victory for the No. 13 nationally-seeded Tigers in the second game of the best-of-three Tallahassee Super Regional.

LSU (46-20) got its only run in the third inning on an RBI single by Aliyah Andrews to score Claire Weinberger. The Tigers were able to load the bases with no one out, but could get no more runs in the frame off FSU pitcher Meghan King, thanks to a couple of close calls going the Seminoles’ way.

King was solid for the Seminoles (55-7-1), allowing just an unearned run on four hits while going the distance and striking out four. King took a line drive off the head on a ball that ricocheted to third baseman Jessie Warren to end the fifth inning, but returned for the sixth.

Walljasper was the story of the day for LSU as she allowed just the hit and two walks while striking out three. She became the first opposing pitcher to win in Tallahassee this season.

With the loss, the season comes down to one game. The winner of Sunday’s contest between LSU and FSU will advance to the Women’s College World Series to take on No. 5 national seed UCLA. The loser will watch the 2017 season come to a close.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

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