Facing elimination in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional, LSU softball remained in contention with a 3-0 shutout over No. 3 seed Connecticut, thanks to a dominant performance by ace pitcher Sydney Berzon.
Following this win, LSU was set to face No. 4 seed Southeastern Louisiana later on Saturday for a spot in Sunday’s championship. The Tigers had dropped their first game of the regional, 4-3, to Southeastern. Earlier Saturday, Southeastern suffered a 14-1 defeat to No. 2 seed Nebraska, who now waits in the championship round.
Berzon, now 18-7 on the season, delivered a five-hit shutout—her sixth of the year and 13th career. She recorded five strikeouts, gave up two walks, and forced nine ground-ball outs. Two of those grounders led to double plays, including the final one of the game, where shortstop Avery Hodge scooped a sharp grounder, tagged second, and made a leaping throw to first for the last out.
Defensively, LSU played sharp, executing a 4-6-3 double play in the first inning after UConn got its first two batters on base.
PHOTO: Avery Hodge of LSU soars over UConn’s Kaitlyn Kibling while completing the game-ending double play at Tiger Park on May 17, 2025.
LSU (42-15) totaled nine hits and five walks but struggled to deliver timely hits, stranding 14 runners on base—after leaving nine in Friday’s defeat. UConn concludes its season at 35-19.
The Tigers had the bases loaded with no outs in both the first and second innings but produced just three runs from those opportunities. In the opening inning, Tori Edwards walked in the first run, but LSU couldn’t capitalize further as the next three batters failed to bring anyone home.
UConn swapped out starter Payton Kinney after a force play at the plate in the second inning. Bergeron followed with a walk to force in another run, and Edwards added an RBI on a deep fly to center.
In the sixth inning, LSU again filled the bases with one out. McKenzie Redoutey’s fly ball turned into a double play when Lexi Hastings threw out Jalia Lassiter at home. Lassiter later lined out to left to end the seventh in another bases-loaded situation.
Nebraska 14, Southeastern Louisiana 1
With back-to-back mercy-rule victories, Nebraska secured a spot in the championship round. The Cornhuskers launched four home runs in Saturday’s game. Hannah Camenzind’s three-run homer in the first set the tone. Ava Kuszak crushed a grand slam during a seven-run third inning. Jody Bahl added another home run, her third of the regional.
