WCWS viewer's guide -- Game 2
Get the inside scoop on the LSU-California matchup
LOUISIANA STATE Tigers |
vs. |
No. 1 CALIFORNIA Golden Bears |
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN THE TIGERS AND BEARS MEET | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Venue: ASA Hall of Fame Stadium |
Who to Watch for the Tigers: OF Ashley Langoni, .265, 6 HR, 30 RBI; P Rachele Fico, 20-11, 0.92 ERA, 213 K; P Brittany Mack, 15-12, 2.21 ERA, 193 K Who to Watch for the Golden Bears: P/UT Valerie Arioto, .385, 23 HR, 60 RBI, 87 BB; 20-3, 1.32 ERA, 155 K; P Jolene Henderson, 36-2, 1.10 ERA, 304 K; OF Jamia Reid, .385, 51 R, 13 RBI, 47 SB |
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IN THE 2012 POSTSEASON | ||||||||||||||||||||||
LSU |
California |
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Rosters: LSU | California Schedules: LSU | California More Postseason: National Statistics Scoreboard Interactive Bracket Video Photos |
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Pitching will be there, but run support is key for LSU It's an all-too-familiar theme for the LSU Tigers this season. Rachele Fico leads the nation with a 0.92 ERA. You'd expect her to have a sparkling record to go along with it. Instead, she is 20-11 on the year. "Seven losses [were] in a shutout, didn’t score a run for us. Three were extra-innings; one she pitched 15 innings for us and we were still shut out," LSU coach Beth Torina said Wednesday. "We only gave her seven total runs support in her 11 losses. I think her record is very tough on her, but honestly she would never complain about; would take all the responsibitly for it, all the blame. She appreciates her team and what they do for her."
What they've done is produced runs at just the right times in the postseason. Mack and Fico have combined for a 0.45 ERA and a 5-1 record to reach Oklahoma City. It will not be easy to keep up that torrid pace in OKC, not with teams like California and Oklahoma on your side of the bracket, each hitting better than .315 as a squad and with at least 88 home runs. But the Tigers' coach believes the one key ingredient is still on their side. "I think this game has always been about pitching," Torina said. "I think as much as we lean toward having a more offensive game in recent years, I still think that if you have a dominant pitcher, you can win and on a big stage. I think Rachele Fico is one of that elite group and has been her whole life. She really just figured it out this year mentally and truly had the type of year she’s capable of having." The teams met once this year already. On Feb. 19, California lit up the Tigers, rolling to a 14-3 (5 inn.) victory. Mack took the loss, allowing six earned runs in 0.2 innings. But the Bears have not faced Fico this season. If they hope to knock her out early like they did Mack, it will start with national player of the year finalist Valerie Arioto. After missing last year's trip to the WCWS when she was out with a broken leg, Arioto has tormented opposing pitchers, hitting at a .385 clip with 65 runs, 23 home runs, 60 RBI and a nation-leading 87 walks. As a team, California has three players with at least as many home runs as LSU's team combined. But those stats can be thrown out the window now, especially since the teams have seen each other once recently. “Their pitching staff kept us off balance," Arioto said Wednesday of the first meeting. "They did a great job. I think our team is prepared, seeing them before. I think both teams are just going to go out there and play hard, so it should be a good [game].” It'll be a great game if both pitching staffs are on the money as LSU will be facing another top-10 ERA team. Cal is third nationally (LSU is ninth) behind Jolene Henderson and Arioto. Henderson owns an impressive 36-2 record and has lost once in her last 23 starts. -- Jerry Trickie, NCAA.com |
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LSU QUICK HITS ► LSU dropped four consecutive games and eight of its previous 10 before starting postseason play. During the postseason, it has outscored its opponents 14-8 in six games. ► Run support has been a issue all year, starting with putting the ball in play. The Tigers have hit .276 in their wins but connected at a paltry .133 clip in the 22 losses. |
CALIFORNIA QUICK HITS ► The Golden Bears played four teams during the regular season that are now currently in the WCWS. Cal went 6-2 in games against Arizona State (2-1), LSU (1-0), Oregon (2-1) and Tennessee (1-0)
► In its first home regional since 1993, California was led by Frani Echavarria, who hit .660 with eight RBI, including her first career grand slam. ► With one more victory, the Golden Bears will set a program record with their 57th win of the season. The current record of 56 was originally set in 2002, the year California won the national title. |