WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES: BATON ROUGE REGIONAL

May 16, 2026

Beth Torina

Maci Bergeron

Cece Cellura

Tiger Park

LSU Tigers

Postgame Press Conference

LSU 8, Virginia Tech 0

BETH TORINA: We've talked all year about just searching for our best game and just trying to find a complete game, and I think that was darn near as close to it as we can be.

I thought we got things from all areas. I think we executed our plan beautifully, and then to do that against such a quality opponent like Virginia Tech is something really special. We know what a good team they are from top to bottom, their pitching staff.

To execute our plan like that with a team such as Virginia Tech is a really great day. Can't say enough about the performance from Cece on the mound. I think she just continued to control their offense in a really dominant offense.

And it's so easy to celebrate somebody like Maci, but for her to have a day like that, just makes my heart want to explode it's so cool. She's just the ultimate Tiger. To see her have a day like that is really, really incredible and I know special to all of us.

Q. Maci, it's been a while since you hit a homer. How good did it feel? And how much did it kind of charge up the dugout?

MACI BERGERON: Yeah, it's awesome. I've been working hard all year long for this moment for my team, and it means a lot in a regional where just need a win to move on.

So I'm happy that I was able to do that for my team.

Q. And for a follow-up, you had a bird's-eye view of the game Cece pitched. Talk a little bit about what was working for her and how she did it.

MACI BERGERON: She's awesome. She's obviously our drop baller of the staff. Hit her spots very well. Didn't miss many spots. Also did a great job executing.

Q. If she had a bird's-eye view, what about from your view? You tell us what was working for you.

CECE CELLURA: I think just trusting my preparation. They were a good match-up for me, but also my defense behind me and the girls in the dugout, I don't think I would be able to do that without them. I give all my credit to them and the support system I have off the field.

You talk to any of them, they're amazing humans, and I'm able to pitch how I pitch because of them.

Q. To come out here get not just two wins but two run-rules, what does that do for your confidence-wise the rest of the way?

MACI BERGERON: I think that springs us forward into tomorrow and against our opponent tomorrow and see how we compete and just continue doing what we're doing.

CECE CELLURA: I agree with Maci. Also, we put in so much preparation and work, again, just trusting what we do. Like, it's fun to play softball like that. It's fun to celebrate the little things. It's fun to celebrate the big moments. So just trusting each other and leaning into each other, it's going to push us forward, and I'm excited to see where we go.

Q. Maci, take me through that at-bat when you hit the home run, what do you remember about that?

MACI BERGERON: I had just prepared well all week for her drop ball. Took a risk swinging at the first pitch, and it paid off for me. Just trusting my preparation, being disciplined in the box.

Q. The way y'all are swinging, did you have the same aggressiveness that you felt like put you all through yesterday? Was that a continuation of what we saw today?

BETH TORINA: I think they're in a good spot. I think we learned pretty early in the year about this offense, that when they're aggressive, they're better. When they're a little bit freer -- I don't want to say they think less, because they're very prepared. Bryce has them with an incredible plan, a plan they can be confident about.

But when this group is a little freer, a little more aggressive, I think, too -- like, a lot of credit to Bryce and what he went through early with this offense, just trying to learn them and understand them. And every group is a little bit different. I think he hit on some things that worked really well for them. But the aggressive part is a huge part of what makes them great.

Q. How on point was your defense today? Seemed like Virginia Tech, they got good belts on the ball, but seemed like somebody was always in place for whatever?

BETH TORINA: Yeah, I was thinking about the double play that Kylee turned just felt so well timed. I mean, I don't know if you could have had it in a more important time in the game just to turn the double play. Cece throws a lot of ground balls, so gives us the opportunity for some things like that.

But just well-timed moment there to get us off the field. And I think Cece did a great job of just pounding the zone and hitting into some of the things, and the defense did a great job of just getting us out of some spots.

Q. As far as Maci, I know numbers-wise this hasn't been, I guess, the season she would have imagined. Have you had any conversations with her throughout the season, I guess, keeping her locked in, keeping her focus up?

BETH TORINA: There really are no numbers this time of year. Like, they're gone. They're in the trash can. All the things have been submitted. There are no numbers, everybody's 0-0, everybody's just competing and playing hard.

She's one of the greatest players that we've ever had. She's been a mainstay for us for four years. She's an incredible softball player. I'd bet on her any day and anytime. I think she's an incredible player. We've been lucky to have her for four years.

Q. As far as Cece, is that as efficient a game you've ever seen? 73 pitches, unbelievable.

BETH TORINA: Cece is just so good at executing the plan and locating. We came up with a good plan for her throughout the week. And, honestly, Bryce watched hitters with me this morning and helped some of the decisions that we made, just sees the game differently, guided us a little bit in what we wanted to do. She's just so good at executing and locating. She just pitched right into what we wanted to do, and it was successful.