LSU pitcher Kelley Lynch reacts to Sunday win, advancing to Super Regionals
LSU took care of business with urgency on Sunday, defeating Southern Illinois 9-0 in a five-inning run-rule to win the Baton Rouge Regional Final. Advancing to the Super Regionals for the 10th time in program history and the first time since 2021.
Stellar play on offense and defense led to a dominant performance for the Tigers, who now push their record to 43-15 on the season as they keep their NCAA Tournament run alive. And following the game, LSU senior pitcher Kelley Lynch spoke about what securing the win meant to herself and her teammates.
“I think it’s really everything to us,” Lynch said. “Like we’ve done so much, we’ve worked so hard our whole time here, especially the transfers coming in helping us out. We’ve just been a team, a whole unit this whole season and to be able to continue to play right now is just a blessing for us.”
Lynch was one of those transfers, joining LSU this offseason as a graduate transfer after spending the first four seasons of her college career at Washington. Earning a Second-Team All-SEC selection in her lone season with the Tigers and pushing her record to 9-2 on the season after allowing just one hit against Southern Illinois on Sunday.
She’s played a major impact in LSU’s success this season, and despite being a newer member of the team, The Bayou is near and dear to her heart. With Lynch also opening up about the emotions that come with Saturday’s Regional Final win potentially being her last game at Tiger Park.
“It’s everything, I was tearing up in the last inning there. I tried to hold it together a little bit,” Lynch admitted. “But it’s meant so much to be here, these fans, they’ve made it home. Just everyone here, our coaching staff, our support staff they’ve all really made it exactly what I wanted it to be.”
The Tigers had the offense to match Lynch’s strong performance in the circle, scoring all of their runs in the first three innings of the game thanks to three home runs. Which included an impressive home run from Karli Petty who did some damage to the scoreboard with her monster solo homer in the third inning.
The outcome of the Stanford Regional will determine who the Tigers will play and if they will host their upcoming Super Regional. Facing either Stanford or Cal State Fullerton in a matchup between the two West Coast teams that Lynch and her teammates will definitely be tuned in for on Sunday night.
“We like to watch softball so we will have some split screens on, we’ll watch four games at a time I’m sure, watch everything that’s going on today, and just enjoy each other’s company while we still have it,” Lynch said.