BATON ROUGE — In the inaugural LSU Softball alumni game, members of the 2003 team defeated former Tiger players, 4-2, at Tiger Park on Saturday afternoon.
Players for the alumni team included former Tiger All-Americans Ashlee Ducote-Eddy, Stephanie Hastings, Trena Peel and Britni Sneed. Brandi Landry, a member of the 1997 and 1998 squads, participated for the alumni, as did Dee Douglas, Jennifer Schuelke and Auburne Ziober, who played for the Tigers from 1998-2001. Erin Johnson and Aleshia Perry, who both completed their eligibility last season, rounded out the alumni roster.
Highlights included a home run by current Tiger sophomore Tessa Lynam off of Sneed in the second inning that tied the game at one. The Tigers went on to take the lead for good with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. A run in the bottom of the fourth rounded out the scoring for the current squad.
On the alumni side, Hastings nailed a pair of doubles in the game, scoring the first run for the former players in the top of the first on an error. In the top of the seventh with the current Tigers leading 4-1 and two outs, Hastings nailed her second double of the game. Lynam then hit Trena Peel, before Ducote-Eddy nailed an RBI double to cut the lead to two with runners on second and third. After Johnson drilled a foul ball off the wall in deep right field that would have tied the game, Lynam got her to pop out to the infield to end the game and preserve the victory.
For the game, the Tigers recorded four runs on eight hits with three errors. The alumni produced two runs on five hits, while also recording three errors.
The four-time defending Southeastern Conference Champion Tigers open the 2003 season on Feb. 7 at home against Stephen F. Austin at 2 p.m. as part of the three-day Tiger Classic. The tournament also features 2002 NCAA Regional finalist DePaul and Baylor, which is led by former Tiger head coach Glenn Moore.