LSU Softball Walks It Off in Thrilling Comeback to Even Series Against Florida — Geaux Tigers!

By Mary John

BATON ROUGE — On a Saturday night in Tiger Park filled with electricity, emotion, and echoes of a roaring purple-and-gold faithful, the LSU Tigers pulled off a thrilling walk-off comeback to defeat the Florida Gators 6–5, evening the weekend SEC series at one game apiece. In a contest that had all the drama of postseason intensity, LSU softball delivered one of its most memorable victories of the season — and perhaps the most pivotal.

After falling behind 5–1 in the fifth inning, LSU stormed back with clutch hits, gutsy baserunning, and unshakable determination. The crescendo came in the bottom of the seventh when freshman phenom Addison Nichols laced a two-out, two-run double off the left field wall to send the Tigers’ dugout and fans into a frenzy.

“I told myself to stay calm and trust my swing,” Nichols said after the game, drenched in Gatorade and overwhelmed with joy. “I knew my teammates had worked so hard to get us in that position. I just wanted to do my part.”

This victory could not have come at a more critical moment for LSU (36–11, 13–6 SEC). After losing Friday’s opener 7–2, the Tigers were on the verge of dropping their fourth straight SEC game — a skid that would’ve placed them in a more precarious seeding position heading into the final stretch before the conference tournament. Florida (38–10, 14–5 SEC), ranked just ahead of LSU in both the SEC standings and national rankings, was seeking to assert dominance and clinch the series.

Instead, LSU responded with grit.

“I’ve been proud of this group all season,” head coach Beth Torina said in her postgame remarks. “But tonight was about heart. We were down. We were tested. And they didn’t flinch.”

Torina, who’s led LSU to four Women’s College World Series appearances during her tenure, praised the team’s resilience — especially the underclassmen.

For much of the game, Florida controlled the tempo. The Gators took a 1–0 lead in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Skylar Wallace, then tacked on three more in the fourth thanks to a two-run single by Charla Echols and a fielding error that extended the frame.

LSU starter Sydney Berzon, typically rock-solid, struggled with her command early. She walked three batters in the first three innings and left a few too many pitches over the heart of the plate. Florida’s power hitters capitalized. But Berzon settled down and gave her team a chance, exiting after five innings with LSU trailing 5–2.

Meanwhile, LSU’s offense failed to capitalize on several early chances. In the third inning, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out but managed just one run — a fielder’s choice RBI from Ciara Briggs. In the fifth, Taylor Pleasants led off with a double but was stranded after three straight outs.

“It felt like we were letting it slip away,” said outfielder Ali Newland, who went 2-for-3 on the night. “But we never stopped believing.”

The turning point came in the sixth inning. Down 5–2 and running out of outs, LSU got a spark from an unlikely source: sophomore pinch hitter Raelin Chaffin, who looped a single into shallow right. The next batter, catcher Maci Bergeron, drew a walk. Two batters later, Newland knocked an RBI single up the middle to make it 5–3.

Florida’s coach, Tim Walton, made the call to bring in closer Keagan Rothrock, a freshman standout with 13 saves on the year and a sub-1.50 ERA. But the Tigers were ready.

“She throws hard, and we knew she liked to get ahead early,” said Nichols. “We adjusted.”

In the bottom of the seventh, LSU’s faithful were on their feet. Florida clung to a 5–4 lead, and Rothrock struck out the first two batters quickly. Down to their final out, LSU refused to fold. Briggs worked a full-count walk and promptly stole second. Then, Pleasants lined a single to right, putting runners on the corners.

That set the stage for Nichols.

On a 1-1 pitch, Rothrock left a riseball just a touch high, and Nichols didn’t miss. The ball screamed off her bat and ricocheted off the left field wall. Both runners scored easily, and Tiger Park erupted.

“I don’t even remember touching first,” Nichols said. “It was a blur. Just pure joy.”

Coach Torina made it clear that the team’s unity — forged over months of grinding through SEC battles — was the foundation of the comeback.

“This team is tight,” Torina said. “They love each other. And that’s the kind of chemistry that shows up when the pressure’s highest.”

Veteran players like Pleasants and Briggs echoed the sentiment.

“We’ve seen so much adversity this season,” said Briggs. “This win isn’t just about one swing. It’s about the belief that we have in each other.”

Florida’s coach Walton tipped his cap to LSU afterward, calling it “one of the gutsiest comebacks” he’s seen all season.

With Saturday’s win, LSU pulls even with Florida in the series and remains right in the thick of the SEC title chase. Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia are also battling near the top of the standings, and each game now holds massive postseason implications.

Sunday’s rubber match between the Gators and Tigers is shaping up to be one of the most important games of the weekend, not just for the teams but also for the NCAA tournament selection committee, which is closely watching these late-season showdowns to help determine regional hosting sites.

“This is what SEC softball is all about,” said SEC Network analyst Kayla Braud on the broadcast. “Every pitch, every swing matters. These two teams are going to be dangerous in the postseason.”

Saturday night also marked the arrival of a potential LSU superstar in Addison Nichols. The freshman from Lafayette, Louisiana, had been solid but not spectacular in SEC play — until now.

“She’s been putting in extra work,” said hitting coach Lindsey Leftwich. “We knew it was just a matter of time.”

Nichols’ walk-off may go down as the signature moment of her young career — and a confidence booster heading into the rest of the SEC slate.

“She’s built for this,” Torina added. “Big moment. Big heart. That’s Addison.”

With Sunday’s game looming, the Tigers know they’ve only evened the series — not won it. But the momentum swing is undeniable.

“This is a turning point,” said Newland. “You could feel it in the dugout. We’re playing for each other, and we’re not backing down from anyone.”

If LSU can take the series on Sunday, it will mark a major statement to the rest of the league and the country that this team is ready for a deep postseason run.

They’ll likely turn to senior pitcher Ali Kilponen, who’s rested and has had success against Florida in the past. Kilponen threw a shutout against the Gators in Gainesville in 2023.

The Tigers will also need another strong offensive showing. Players like Bergeron, Newland, Pleasants, and now Nichols will be key to setting the tone early.

In the grand scheme of LSU softball history, Saturday night’s win may seem like just another regular-season game. But to those who witnessed it — the 2,500+ fans packed into Tiger Park, the players who refused to give up, and the freshman who became a hero — it meant more.

It was about belief. It was about team. It was about the grit that defines LSU athletics.

And above all, it was about heart.

“This team fights,” Torina said simply. “And they’re not done yet.”