Stein’s inside job sparks Tigers, 4-0

• By WILLIAM WEATHERS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 9, 2008 - Page: 3C - UPDATED: 12:45 a.m.

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All-out effort is simply built into Shannon Stein’s DNA.

With the opportunity to provide the difference in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament LSU’s senior second baseman relied on her hustle and instincts to give her team an early lift.

Though it may have accounted for only one run, Stein’s inside-the-park homer went a long way in helping LSU to a 4-0 victory Thursday over Auburn before a season-high crowd of 1,224 at Tiger Park.

“I always run everything out, just go 100 percent,” Stein said. “I was about to hit second when I realized they weren’t even close to the ball. I just kept going hard. I was excited to get something going for our team.”

The triumph sends third-seeded LSU (42-15) into a semifinal game against second-seeded Alabama, a 1-0 winner over seventh-seeded Mississippi State, at 7: 30 p.m. today. The game will be broadcast locally by WNXX-104.5/104.9-FM.

Stein’s homer was just part of the story for LSU, which is attempting to become the first team to win the SEC’s postseason tournament on its own field.

Sophomore Cody Trahan, a second-team All-SEC selection, made her first postseason appearance a memorable one — silencing sixth-seeded Auburn (37-20) to the tune of two hits, both singles. She walked five and struck out eight in her 12th complete game of the season.

“This is my first appearance in an SEC tournament so I’m sure the nerves were in there somewhere,” Trahan said. “I just tried not to think about it. I’ve been coming out here and doing it all season. I tried to think back when we faced them earlier and used that.”

Trahan (18-4) averted any trouble after stranding runners at second and third in the top of the second inning. She struck out Starr Dorsey looking on a change-up and stranded two more runners in the third.

Trahan retired seven of the last eight batters she faced, including striking out the side in the sixth.

“We had a couple of opportunities there but when the going got tough, she got tougher,” Auburn coach Tina Deese said of Trahan, who threw 80 of 128 pitches for strikes.

LSU broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third against Auburn starter Ana Thompson, who had not yielded a hit to that juncture.

Thompson, who had pitched since April 23 because of a sore shoulder, allowed two baserunners on walks and struck out three, including getting Dee Dee Henderson looking for the second out in the third.