LSU softball upended after controversial call in season-ending loss in super regionals
An apparent missed call allowed Stanford to break open a stellar defensive stalemate, plating six runs after the potential third out of the fifth inning as LSU softball saw its season come to a close with a 8-0 run-rule loss in Game 3 of the super regionals.
The Tigers walloped Stanford ace NiJaree Canady in a surprising 11-1 run-rule win in Game 1, but the Player of the Year finalist controlled the LSU bats in the final two games as the Cardinal rallied to clinch a return to the Women's College World Series.
The Tigers were shut out Sunday as Canady held LSU to three hits and the Cardinal scored six opportunistic runs in the fifth after a liner from Ava Gall appeared to ricochet off the calf of Kyra Chan between first and second base.
LSU's Beth Torina emerged from the dugout to ask for the umpires to discus the call, but the crew stuck with the decision.
The Tigers were out of replay reviews after a flurry of plays at the plate caused both coaching staffs to expend their challenges.
LSU's quest for its first trip to the WCWS since 2017 fell short, falling in the decisive game, moving to 3-3 all-time in Game Threes in the super regionals.
Decisive moments
When every play mattered, McKenzie Redoutey came up with a big one in the fourth in a scoreless game.
Redoutey threw out Kaelen Koch at home when she tried to score from second on a two-out single from Jade Berry.
Redoutey fielded the sharply-hit ball cleanly and lasered the ball to home, where catcher Maci Bergeron easily applied the tag to end the threat and inning.
But Stanford returned the favor in the top of the fifth, turning a double play after the Tigers had loaded the bases with one out. Chan caught a fly ball in shallow left and sent the ball home, and Aly Kaneshiro made the play at the plate.
Then in the bottom of the fifth, Gall's RBI pushed the game to 2-0, Kaneshiro and Koch followed with two more RBIs, prompting Torina to replace Sydney Berzon in a 4-0 game.
Raelin Chaffin's first offering to Jade Berry was smashed to straight away center for a three-run home run and a shocking 7-0 Stanford lead.
The Cardinal closed the game out on Kaitlyn Lim's solo home run to lead off the sixth.
More: LSU softball belts three home runs; cruises to Game 1 win in super regionals
Looking back
The Tigers closed the year 44-17 after starting the year with 24 consecutive wins, returning to the super regionals for the first time since 2021.
After exploding for 11 runs and 16 hits in an impressive Game 1 showing, LSU's bats were held scoreless over the final 13 innings of the series as Canady limited the Tigers to five hits over the last two games.
While Stanford struggled against Berzon in the first meeting in Game 1, the Cardinal connected for nine hits and six runs in 4⅔ innings on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: LSU softball upended by Stanford after controversial call spurs rally
