NCAA Softball Super Regional Preview: Florida State vs. LSU
Winning its 13th consecutive NCAA regional game, No. 4 Florida State (54-6-1) is one of the final 16 teams competing for the 2017 National Championship. This is the fifth-straight season that the Seminoles have advanced to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Softball Championship and will host LSU (45-19) beginning Friday, May 26th at 4 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
This past weekend, LSU won its 12th NCAA Regional in 18 appearances, marking its third-straight regional championship and fifth under head coach Beth Torina.
From the Plate
The Seminole offense has been consistent for most of the season. As a team, Florida State enters the Super Regional with a .332 batting average. The offense is led by Morgan Klaevemann and Jessie Warren. Klaevemann is leading in batting average with an impressive .424 on the season with 67 hits and 52 runs in 158 at bats. Jessie Warren heads into the Super regional batting .419 with 72 hits, 60 runs, 23 home runs and 67 RBI. Six other Seminole hitters enter the weekend with a batting average above .300.
The LSU offense has been led all season by Bailey Landry. The senior enters the Super regional with a batting average of .412. In 211 at-bats on the year, Landry has recorded 87 hits, 10 doubles, eight triples, and she had tallied 34 RBI. Senior catcher Sahvanna Jaquish has also had an impressive offensive season. Jaquish enters the weekend with a .335 batting average, 54 hits, 11 doubles, nine home runs, and 56 RBI in 161 at bats.
From the Circle
Florida State has been relying on the arms of Jessica Burroughs and Meghan King for the majority of the 2017 season. Senior pitcher Jessica Burroughs is having one of her best years to date in the circle. Burroughs is 26-4 on the season, holds a 1.10 ERA, and has 254 strikeouts in 184.1 innings pitched. Sophomore pitcher, Meghan King is 27-2 on the season, has a 1.50 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 172.2 innings pitched. Both pitchers are capable of leading the Seminoles out of the Super Regional, we predict Burroughs will get the ball for game one.
LSU junior Pitcher Carley Hoover has settled into her groove down the stretch. The junior enters the Super Regional with a 0.98 ERA, a record of 14-6 and 158 strike outs in 142.1 innings pitched. Fellow junior pitcher Allie Walljasper has seen the same amount of innings in the circle this season as Hoover with 142.1. Walljasper enters the Super Regional with a 16-5 record, a 1.33 ERA, and 91 strikeouts.
Analysis/Prediction
The Seminoles hold a 28-0 home stand record on the 2017 season and we predict that this weekend won’t be any different. We expect a Jessica Burroughs vs. Carley Hoover matchup in game one. If both pitchers can settle in, game one could be a low-scoring pitcher’s duel. We predict that Florida State will be the team to advance out of this Super, but LSU will give them all they can handle.
