COLUMBUS, Ga. — The No. 6 LSU Tigers fell, 3-1, to the Michigan Wolverines in eight innings in the Gold Bracket consolation game on Sunday morning at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.
“It was a hard luck loss for us,” said head coach Yvette Girouard. “Michigan did what it needed to do and got a break to the winning side. We have to go home now, make adjustments, believe in ourselves, and we will be fine.”
The Tigers, who are now 13-4 for the season, were eliminated with the loss.
The Wolverines struck first in the early game on Sunday. Stefanie Volpe singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Volpe later made it home on a throwing error by right fielder Megann Steege to score the first Michigan run.
The Tigers answered back when Sara Fitzgerald got on base by a fielding error from third baseman Marissa Young. After being advanced to second, Fitzgerald scored to tie the score at 1-1 when Christy Connor singled to center field for the first Tiger hit.
With the game tied at 1-1 after seven innings, the international tie breaker rule was enforced at the top of the eighth. Michigan took advantage of the runner on second, Melinda Moulden, and advanced her to third with a sacrifice bunt. Rebecca Tune drew a walk with two outs to put runners on first and third. Monica Shock singled to center field to send home the winning runs for the Wolverines.
LSU moved runner Jill Crawford to third in with a sacrifice in the bottom of the inning but could not get a hit to try and match the opponents score.
LSU’s Britni Sneed pitched two innings in relief for starter Ashley Lewis. Sneed picked up the loss for the Tigers, moving her record to 6-4 for the season. Sneed struck out three and walked two while giving up one hit. Lewis worked five innings for the Tigers, giving up five hits, walking two and striking out two.
The Tiger bats were mostly silent, only getting two hits for the game. Christy Connor went 1-for-3 for the Tigers and Dee Douglas went 1-for-1.
Marissa Young pitched two innings in relief to get the win. She gave up one hit, walked one and struck out two. Marie Barda went five innings for the Wolverines with one hit and three strikeouts.
LSU returns home to Tiger Park to host the Purple and Gold Challenge in Baton Rouge, March 2-4. Teams participating will be Southern Miss, Tulsa, Houston and McNeese State.