LAS VEGAS — A pair of doubles and a home run by Sara Fitzgerald helped the seventh-ranked LSU softball team split a pair of games with nationally ranked opponents on Friday morning in the first day of the UNLV Softball Classic at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Las Vegas, Nev.
The Tigers (4-3) opened play by defeating No. 10 Cal State Fullerton, 4-3.
LSU then dropped a hard-fought 2-0 decision to No. 1 UCLA. Cal State Fullerton dropped to 6-4 on the year, while UCLA improved to 7-1.
“I am pleased with the way we played today,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard, “and I am pleased with the effort. That is all a coach can ask for. The competition we faced today is as good as we will face this year.
“I thought we got a great effort from our pitchers. Kristin Schmidt pitched well enough to win against UCLA and Tessa Lynam gutted it out against Cal State Fullerton. We also had several outstanding defensive plays.”
With three extra-base hits, Fitzgerald went 3-for-6 on the day with an RBI and two runs scored. She also walked once and leads the team with a .571 slugging percentage.
“Sara Fitzgerald had a day to remember,” said Girouard.
Against Cal State Fullerton, the Tigers took advantage of a leadoff single by LaDonia Hughes and back-to-back walks to load the bases in the top of the first inning. An RBI groundout by Julie Wiese plated the first LSU run. A wild pitch by Jodie Cox on an Alicia Owen walk scored Sara Fitzgerald from third and put runners on second and third with one out, but the Tigers could get no more. After a Leigh Ann Danos walk, back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning with the bases loaded, but LSU leading 2-0.
With one out in the bottom of the first, Titan first baseman Jenny Topping nailed a double down the left field line. Cox then hit a ball to left centerfield that Hughes made a spectacular play to keep from going over the fence, preventing a two-run home run. On the play, she slammed into the wall and the ball dropped to the ground, resulting in a Cox double, that kept Topping a third. After Tiger pitcher Tessa Lynam issued a walk to load the bases with one out, back-to-back infield groundouts got the Tigers out of the inning unscathed.
In the bottom of the third, Topping singled up the middle with one out.
After a fielder’s choice groundout that put Cox on first, Amanda Hockett tripled to the right field fence, scoring Cox and cutting the lead to 2-1.
With Hockett on third, Lynam struck out Amy LaRocque to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Fitzgerald gave the Tigers a 3-1 lead with her first career home run. She drove the 2-1 offering over the fence in straightaway center field.
In the bottom of the inning, Julie Watson led off with an infield single that barely cleared the batter’s box. Gina Oaks reached and advanced to second and Watson moved to third on a sacrifice bunt attempt when Fitzgerald missed the throw from Wiese at first. After intentionally walking Topping to load the bases, Watson scored and Oaks moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Hockett. An infield single by LaRocque scored Oaks to tie the game before Lynam got out of the inning with a strikeout.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Blair Smith walked for the Tigers. On an error by Oaks, Smith advanced to second and Megann Steege reached first.
Smith and Steege then advanced on a wild pitch by Cox before Smith scored on a second wild pitch. Lauren Delahoussaye then hit a slow roller to the shortstop, but Steege was thrown out at home trying to score. Hughes then grounded out to end the inning.
The Tigers threatened again in the top of the seventh inning. Fitzgerald doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning. After a ground out by Christy Connor sent Fitzgerald, Wiese lined out to the third baseman.
Owen then drew a two-out walk. On a double-steal attempt, Owen took second, but Fitzgerald was thrown out at home trying to score to end the inning.
Topping led off the bottom of the seventh for Cal State Fullerton and the failed to reach base for the first time in the game, flying out to centerfield. After Cox struck out, Hockett singled up the middle. On a line shot to third base by LaRocque, Wiese batted the ball up in the air and spun around to make the catch for the final out of the game, preserving the win.
Lynam picked up the complete-game victory to improve to 3-0 on the year. She allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits with three walks while striking out seven. Cox got the loss for Cal State Fullerton to drop to 2-3 on the year. She allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits with seven walks and 11 strikeouts.
Turning around and immediately playing the top-ranked team in the nation, the Tigers quickly got out of a jam in the first inning. After a leadoff single by Natasha Watley, she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. An infield groundout put her on third before Tiger pitcher Kristin Schmidt got Tairia Mims to ground out to Wiese at third to end the inning.
“Today is the epitome of fastpitch softball,” said Girouard. “You play a nationally ranked team and turn around and have five minutes before you play another great opponent.”
UCLA struck first in the top of the third inning. With one out, Natasha Watley reached on a fielding error by Smith. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. On a single up the middle, she scored from second, just sneaking in under the tag by Jennie Reeves for the 1-0 Bruin lead.
Claire Sua led off the top of the fourth inning with a single to center field. After Amanda Simpson came in to pinch run for Sua, Reeves gunned her down attempting to steal second. That proved important because just one batter later, UCLA stretched the lead to 2-0 on a solo home run by Emily Zaplatosch.
The Tigers threatened in the bottom of the fourth. Fitzgerald led off with a double to left centerfield. After a strikeout by Connor, she advanced to third on a wild pitch. Two infield groundouts to the shortstop, however, stranded Fitzgerald at third.
Kristin Schmidt fell to 1-3 with the loss, allowing just two runs, only one of which was earned, on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Keira Goerl got the win for the Bruins, allowing two hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.
The Tigers continue tournament play Saturday against Cal Poly at 11 a.m. CT and Utah at 6:30 p.m. CT. LSU will conclude tournament play on Sunday against Central Michigan at 11 a.m. CT.
“We have another early morning tomorrow,” said Girouard, “but I am looking forward to it.”
LSU 200 011 0 – 4 4 1
Cal State Fullerton 001 020 0 – 3 6 1
W – Lynam (3-0). L – Cox 2-3. S – none.
UCLA 001 100 0 – 2 7 0
LSU 000 000 0 – 0 2 1
W – Goerl (6-1). L – Schmidt (1-3). S – none.