CHATTANOOGA, TENN. — The third-ranked Southeastern Conference Championship LSU Tiger softball team completed the sweep of the conference with a 1-0 win over South Carolina in the championship game of the SEC Tournament.
The two teams met last year in the Tournament championship, and the game scores were the same, 1-0. However, the winner last year was South Carolina, and Junior Britni Sneed and senior Stephanie Hastings were not going to let that happen again.
Senior Stephanie Hastings started the game off for the Tigers with a bang with a two-out solo shot just right of the left field foul pole in the top of the first inning to put LSU up 1-0. Her one run combined with Sneed’s arm and a solid defense were all that LSU needed to capture its second SEC Tournament Championship.
“I think in championship play you need three things, timely hitting, solid defense and stellar pitching and we had all three today,” said head coach Yvette Girouard. “Britni finishes up the season unbeaten in the SEC, and life is good. Dee and Stephanie also both made crucial plays that made the difference.”
“Dee and April had gotten the pitch that I wanted, so I was waiting on it,”said Stephanie Hastings. “When I hit the ball, I was just praying that it was fair.”
LSU improves to 53-9 on the season, and South Carolina falls to 40-18-1.
The Tigers threatened again with two hits and a walk to load the bases in the third inning, but Matthews and the Gamecocks got out of the jam unharmed.
South Carolina came close to scoring a run in the fourth inning when Megan Donohoo led off the inning with a single. Debra Lee Troesh then made it to first on a fielder’s choice, and an error by first baseman Christy Connor sent her to second. When a ball went past third baseman Julie Wiese, it looked as if pinch runner Kim Evans may score from second, but shortstop Stephanie Hastings came up with a stellar save to throw her out at third base.
Troesh doubled to left field in the sixth inning, and Amber Curtis singled to left field as pinch runner Nancy Crane rounded third to head home. However, Dee Douglas gunned her down at the plate to save the Tigers’ one run lead.
“It was a do-or-die situation,” said Douglas. “We practice that play everyday at practice and I made the throw when it counted. You have to be ready for that one play. I kept my head down and fielded the ball, and little things like that come up with big results.”
SEC Player of the Year, Britni Sneed, got the win for the Tigers. She hurled a three hitter, walking none and setting a new SEC Tournament record with 11 K’s. She was named the SEC Tournament MVP, going 3-0 in the Tournament.
“I felt rejuvenated after the days rest,” said Sneed. “South Carolina has a great team. We could see it in their eyes that they wanted it, and it made us want it even more. We pushed harder and we won.”
Four Tigers were named to the SEC All-Tournament Team: First base, Christy Connor; Shortstop, Stephanie Hastings; Outfielder Dee Douglas; and pitcher Britni Sneed.
LSU now awaits the announcement of the NCAA Regional pairings on Sunday at 7 p.m.