The Walk-Off: SDSU hands No. 8 Missouri first loss, No. 6 LSU survives Boise State

The Mountain West put up a fight against two Top-10 SEC foes. One prevailed at the Mary Nutter, while the other is hopeful for Friday’s rematch.

San Diego State upsets undefeated No. 8 Missouri

Mac Barbara nearly carried San Diego State back against a ranked SEC team last week. She finished the job on Thursday. Barbara’s three-run blast was the difference in the Aztecs’ 3-2 win over No. 8 Missouri.

San Diego State struggled to find any offense against Laurin Krings. The first time through the order she struck out five batters including Barbara. Krings should’ve been out of the third inning as well but the surehanded Jenna Laird made a two-out error. Bella Espinoza’s infield single gave Barbara another chance at Krings. She didn’t waste it, hitting the homer to give her team a three-run lead.

Missouri fought back as the first two batted reached base in the fifth, which chased Allie Light from the game. Dee Dee Hernandez came into the game and limited the damage. The Tigers scored one on an Alex Honnold sacrifice fly, but despite loading the bases again Maddie Gallagher lined out to third to end the frame. Kayley Lenger hit a pinch-hit solo home run, but it was too little, too late for Missouri.

Taylor Pleasants sends the Tigers to another party at the plate

No. 6 LSU isn’t done with walk-offs. After back-to-back walk-walk wins in Clearwater, Taylor Pleasants decided she had enough of Boise State’s upset scare. The star shortstop blasted a home run into the Baton Rouge night sky to lead off the bottom of the 10th and push the Tigers atop 3-2.

Pucker Up! 😚 @Tpleasants17 hits her third career walk-off home run and the Tigers log their third consecutive walk-off!#DealUsIn pic.twitter.com/LbRLfqoUt1

— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) February 23, 2024

The Tigers were on cruise control for the game’s first five innings. McKenzie Redoutey and Hannah Carson supplemented Sydney Berzon with an early two-run lead. The LSU ace had thrown 5.1 no-hit innings. Boise State finally got the magic going.

Pinch hitter Jordyn Hutchins singled to end the no-no and fired up the bats. The Broncos loaded up the bases with two more singles for Alycia Flores. The designated player battled to the very end with two outs, fouling three straight pitches in a 3-2 count. She finally got enough of one, poking it over the leaping Pleasnants to tie the game at two in the sixth.

Berzon responded by going the distance allowing on two more hits the next four innings and ended with 13 strikeouts. Abby Dowell did a great job for the Broncos in relief. The freshman went 5.1 innings with her lone mistake being the homer by Pleasants.

Softball around America

• Thursday’s premier matchup was No. 4 Washington versus No. 11 Oklahoma State in Florida. Unfortunately, the game was not streamed as the Cowgirls went on to win 7-0. Lexi Kilfoyl is on a heater, throwing a two-hit complete game after shutting out Florida’s offense on Monday. Oklahoma State finally broke through against Lindsay Lopez in the fifth inning. Claire Timm hit a two-run homer and freshman Rosie Davis blasted a three-run shot to break things open in the seventh.
• UCF had a tough 0-2 pill to swallow in California. The Knights fell to No. 18 Mississippi State 2-1 but had a chance in the sixth. After drawing within one, an error extended the inning and put the tying run on third. Aspen Wesley got the key strikeout to end the game.
  • It was a similar fate against Oregon. Morgan Scott came into the seventh with the Ducks up one but runners at second and third with no outs. Aubrey Evans hit a liner to left too hard to bring a run home on an out. Oregon intentionally walked Sona Halajian to load the bases. Scott then struck out Stormy Kotzelnick and Sierra Humphreys to end the game in a 4-3 Oregon win.
  • Oregon was on the wrong end of a one-run game, falling to Baylor 3-2. KK Humphreys hit a ball to deep right over Ana Watson’s head. Although the Ducks were down two in the seventh and only one out, both runners were trying to tag up. Pinch runner Regan Legg couldn’t score from second in time, staying at third but Humphreys got caught in no man’s land between second and third for the second out. Emma Kauf popped up to RyLee Crandall to end the game.
  • The one-run chain didn’t stop in Baylor’s nightcap. The Bears walked off Notre Dame in a 10-9 on a fielder’s choice. The Fighting Irish gave the Bears a battle after scoring six runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead.
• Wisconsin found a close win finally. The Badgers were so close to upsetting a ranked opponent in Clearwater, yet they mounted a comeback against Oregon State. The Beavers built a two-run lead early and the Badgers couldn’t solve Ellie Garcia or Logan Hulon. That was until Peyton Bannon hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to give Wisconsin a 3-2 lead that it ultimately kept.
  • Though the Badgers couldn’t find the big hit Missouri, Wisconsin went into the seventh tied at one with the Tigers. Missouri plated a pair of runs in the top half of the inning. While Wisconsin loaded the bases and pulled within one, Missouri stranded the runners to secure a 3-2 win.