Game 14: LSU 4, Illinois 1
5/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 23, 2004
WACO, Texas - LSU advanced to the Women's College World Series with a 4-1 win over Illinois in the Waco regional final at Getterman Stadium. Tournament Most Outstanding Player Kristin Schmidt tossed a complete game, her fourth of the tournament, to pick up the win and improve to 35-5 on the season.
The Tigers struck early, scoring single runs in the second and third inning. Julie Wiese put the Tigers up 1-0 with her one-out blast over the left field wall off of Illinois starting pitcher Amanda Fortune. La Donia Hughes made it 2-0 with her single up the middle to score Camille Harris in the third.
Following a run in the fifth to make it 3-0, Illinois threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with only one out. However, the Fighting Illini managed only one run in the inning as Sarah Baumgartner scored on a fielder's choice to cut the lead to 3-1. Schmidt retired the next batter to get out of the jam as the Tigers extended the lead back to three when Lauren Delahoussaye smashed a RBI double to left-center field.
Schmidt then retired the Illini in order in the seventh, as LSU clinched the regional title and a trip to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series.
Leslie Klein was perfect on the day for LSU, going 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored.
For the tournament, Schmidt was 4-0 with two shutouts and tossed every inning for the Tigers as LSU will face the winner of the Michigan regional on Thursday, May 27, at Hall of Fame Stadium.
Fortune took the loss for Illinois, dropping her record to 31-11 on the season as the Fighting Illini finished the year 45-21-1.
