Washington's Heather Tarr explains how to get bats going vs. Louisiana

Through four innings of play and needing one win to get to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, the Washington softball lineup had gone cold. As head coach Heather Tarr spoke with the broadcast crew briefly, she discussed how the Huskies could get their bats going.

Tarr gave plenty of credit to Louisiana pitcher Meghan Schorman for the work she was doing. And as Washington was the away team on Saturday following Game 1 of the Super Regional, Tarr knew the Huskies needed to get things clicking in the final innings of the game as she spoke during the bottom of the fourth inning.

“For us, we just have to trust what we’re seeing and make some adjustments a little bit quicker. But I think she’s doing a good job. So give us a little bit more time and see if we can figure it out,” Tarr said.

The offensive doldrums on Saturday were a stark departure from Friday night. The Huskies run-ruled Louisiana, 8-0 in five inning to win the first game of the Super Regional.

When Tarr spoke to the broadcast crew, Washington had only recorded one hit and had only two baserunners on. After a quiet fifth inning, the Huskies got something going in the top of the 6th as an Avery Hobson double followed by a Sami Reynolds slap-bunt single put the pressure on in a 0-0 game.

With one out, Schorman finally had to make pitches with danger on the base paths.

Washington right fielder Madison Huskey stepped into the box and launched a fly ball to center field, scoring the runner from third on a sacrifice fly to open the scoring.

The Louisiana lineup had managed to churn out a few more hits throughout the game, but every time the Ragin’ Cajuns got a base runner or two on, the Huskies came up big defensively or starting pitcher Lindsay Lopez would make a few big pitches to end the threat.

Tarr heaped praise on the pitcher’s late season form.

“I think she just had a good mental switch. Just believing in herself and she’s got some great stuff. Obviously she’s got a great offspeed pitch and she comes with wonderful experience. So we love throwing her out there and she’s a competitor,” Tarr said.

And with the one-run lead, Washington is six outs away from a trip to Oklahoma City for the WCWS.