Friday, May 20
College Station, Texas
5 p.m. EST
Syracuse University
3
vs
0
No. 20 LSU
Junior Lacey Kohl hit the game-winning homerun in the top of the 11th inning to lift SU past LSU in the NCAA Regional.
Photo by: Stephen Parker
Kohl Lifts SU To First NCAA Victory
5/20/2011 8:02:14 PM | Softball
Syracuse 3, LSU 0 l Photo Gallery
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Junior Lacey Kohl hit a three-run homerun in the top of the 11th inning to give Syracuse (45-11) its first NCAA Tournament win in program history, 3-0, against No. 20 Louisiana State University (38-17) on Friday, May 20 at Aggie Softball Stadium. Junior pitcher Jenna Caira struck out 13 batters in the circle for SU to record her third consecutive shutout.
In the bottom of the 11th inning, sophomore Veronica Grant singled to right field to start the lineup. Sophomore Stephanie Watts laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Grant to second. LSU's pitcher intentionally walked junior Lisaira Daniels to put runners on first and second. Kohl drove in three runs with her homerun.
The Orange will face Texas A&M tomorrow at 2 p.m. EST. The Aggies defeated Sacred Heart, 10-2 game two of regional action.
L. Daniels got the bats going early in the first inning with a single to right field. With Kohl at the plate, L. Daniels was caught stealing second. Kohl then struck out swinging to end SU's at bat.
Both teams went three up-three down in the second inning. Caira, struck out one batter and recorded an assist to help SU's defense hold the Tigers scoreless.
LSU pitcher, Rachele Fico struck out three consecutive batters in the top of the third inning to send the Orange back into the field. The Orange followed suite, retiring three straight Tiger batters. Caira fanned the second and third batters to tally her fifth strikeout of the game. The fourth inning mirrored the third with both squads going three up-three down for the second time.
In the top of the sixth with two outs, senior Rachel Helman hit a hard ball up the middle for a single. Caira popped up to Fico in the circle to end the inning and strand Helman on base.
LSU's offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth inning, recording two hits in its first two at bats. With just one out, the Tigers had runners on second and third. Caira turned up the heat in the circle, striking out the next two batters to strand two runners and hold LSU scoreless.
Sophomore shortstop Morgan Nandin started Syracuse's lineup in the top of the sixth inning with a base hit up the middle. Freshman Shirley Daniels entered the game to pinch run for Nandin. Consecutive sacrifice bunts by Grant and Watts sent S. Daniels into scoring position at third base. L. Daniels grounded to third base for the final out of the inning to leave S. Daniels on base.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Caira walked her first batter of the matchup in Ashley Langoni. During LSU's next at bat, Langoni was tagged out by first baseman Kelly Saco attempting to make it back to the bag to record the final out and send the game to extra innings.
Syracuse could not get its offense going in the top of the eighth, going three-up three down. In the bottom of the eighth, LSU's Morgan Russell recorded a base hit to start the lineup. Pinch runner Meghan Patterson advanced to third on the sacrifice hit and wild pitch by Caira. With two outs, Watts fielded a grounder from LSU's Tiffany Shaw and made a diving tag to record the third out.
L. Daniels came up big once again in the top of the ninth with a triple to center field. Fico fanned SU's next two batters to strand L. Daniels on base. The Orange's defense retired three consecutive Tiger batters to send the game to the 10th inning.
In the top of the 10th, Helman reached first base on a fielding error by LSU's second baseman. Once again, Fico ended the inning with two straight strikeouts.
LSU registered two hits in its final two at bats, but SU's defense held strong, leaving two runners on base to secure the shutout.
Caira's 13 strikeout performance was her third best of the season. Sophomore Ashley Dimon caught all 11 innings for the Orange.
Fico finished the game with 18 strikeouts, allowing just six hits, including Kohl's game-winning homerun.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Junior Lacey Kohl hit a three-run homerun in the top of the 11th inning to give Syracuse (45-11) its first NCAA Tournament win in program history, 3-0, against No. 20 Louisiana State University (38-17) on Friday, May 20 at Aggie Softball Stadium. Junior pitcher Jenna Caira struck out 13 batters in the circle for SU to record her third consecutive shutout.
In the bottom of the 11th inning, sophomore Veronica Grant singled to right field to start the lineup. Sophomore Stephanie Watts laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Grant to second. LSU's pitcher intentionally walked junior Lisaira Daniels to put runners on first and second. Kohl drove in three runs with her homerun.
The Orange will face Texas A&M tomorrow at 2 p.m. EST. The Aggies defeated Sacred Heart, 10-2 game two of regional action.
L. Daniels got the bats going early in the first inning with a single to right field. With Kohl at the plate, L. Daniels was caught stealing second. Kohl then struck out swinging to end SU's at bat.
Both teams went three up-three down in the second inning. Caira, struck out one batter and recorded an assist to help SU's defense hold the Tigers scoreless.
LSU pitcher, Rachele Fico struck out three consecutive batters in the top of the third inning to send the Orange back into the field. The Orange followed suite, retiring three straight Tiger batters. Caira fanned the second and third batters to tally her fifth strikeout of the game. The fourth inning mirrored the third with both squads going three up-three down for the second time.
In the top of the sixth with two outs, senior Rachel Helman hit a hard ball up the middle for a single. Caira popped up to Fico in the circle to end the inning and strand Helman on base.
LSU's offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth inning, recording two hits in its first two at bats. With just one out, the Tigers had runners on second and third. Caira turned up the heat in the circle, striking out the next two batters to strand two runners and hold LSU scoreless.
Sophomore shortstop Morgan Nandin started Syracuse's lineup in the top of the sixth inning with a base hit up the middle. Freshman Shirley Daniels entered the game to pinch run for Nandin. Consecutive sacrifice bunts by Grant and Watts sent S. Daniels into scoring position at third base. L. Daniels grounded to third base for the final out of the inning to leave S. Daniels on base.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Caira walked her first batter of the matchup in Ashley Langoni. During LSU's next at bat, Langoni was tagged out by first baseman Kelly Saco attempting to make it back to the bag to record the final out and send the game to extra innings.
Syracuse could not get its offense going in the top of the eighth, going three-up three down. In the bottom of the eighth, LSU's Morgan Russell recorded a base hit to start the lineup. Pinch runner Meghan Patterson advanced to third on the sacrifice hit and wild pitch by Caira. With two outs, Watts fielded a grounder from LSU's Tiffany Shaw and made a diving tag to record the third out.
L. Daniels came up big once again in the top of the ninth with a triple to center field. Fico fanned SU's next two batters to strand L. Daniels on base. The Orange's defense retired three consecutive Tiger batters to send the game to the 10th inning.
In the top of the 10th, Helman reached first base on a fielding error by LSU's second baseman. Once again, Fico ended the inning with two straight strikeouts.
LSU registered two hits in its final two at bats, but SU's defense held strong, leaving two runners on base to secure the shutout.
Caira's 13 strikeout performance was her third best of the season. Sophomore Ashley Dimon caught all 11 innings for the Orange.
Fico finished the game with 18 strikeouts, allowing just six hits, including Kohl's game-winning homerun.
Syracuse Softball
Friday, March 20
Syracuse Softball Highlights vs. Florida State 3/15/26
Tuesday, March 17
Syracuse Softball Highlights vs. Florida State 3/14/26
Saturday, March 14
Syracuse Softball Highlights vs. Florida State 3/13/26
Saturday, March 14
