LSU dropped the opening game of last season’s Tallahassee Super Regional, but rallied to win the final two games against Florida State. This time around, it’s the Seminoles who will have their backs against the wall.
The Tigers raced to a big early lead before holding off FSU at JoAnn Graf Field on Friday night, 6-5. Four of the five FSU runs were driven in by senior third baseman Jessie Warren.
With the Seminoles (50-11) trailing 6-2 and down to their last out in the seventh, Warren took an Allie Walljasper pitch over the center field wall for a 3-run home run to cut the lead to one. The Tigers (45-15) then turned to Carley Hoover, who struck out Carsyn Gordon to end the game.
After going ahead on a solo home run by Amanda Doyle in the second inning, LSU broke things open with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Michaela Schlattman led off the inning off with a solo shot. The Tigers made it 3-0 on a bases loaded walk to Emily Griggs, which was issued by FSU reliever Cassidy Davis before Doyle delivered a 2-run double to make it 5-0.
The Seminoles got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the frame. After an RBI double from Dani Morgan scored Cali Harrod, Morgan came around to score on a Warren sacrifice fly. LSU added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single from Taryn Antoine.
Doyle finished with three hits for the Tigers while Schlattman added two more. The Tigers outhit the Seminoles, 9-6. Leslie Farris, who did not start for FSU, was the only Seminole with two hits.
Walljasper earned the win for LSU while Kylee Hanson took the loss for FSU. Hanson allowed three runs and two earned in four innings of work.
FSU will try to stave off elimination on Saturday and force a decisive game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. EST.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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