ATHENS, Ga. — A seventh-inning rally fell short as the eighth-ranked LSU softball team dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 11 Georgia on Sunday afternoon at the Georgia Softball Complex.
With the loss, the Tigers fell to 23-9 on the season and 4-4 in Southeastern Conference play. Georgia improved to 31-5 on the year and 10-2 in the SEC.
After a dramatic seventh-inning comeback by LSU on Saturday, the Tigers attempted the same on Sunday, but came up just short. With two outs, LSU got back-to-back hits by Alicia Owen and Leigh Ann Danos to put runners on second and third, but Blair Smith struck out to end the game.
Kristin Schmidt got the loss for LSU to fall to 12-8 on the season. She allowed three runs, two earned, on 10 hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Michelle Green picked up the win to improve to 22-2 on the season. She allowed five hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
“Georgia has a good ballclub and they were the better team this weekend,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We have been waking up a little late in the game. You have to grab opportunities when they are there. We didn’t and they did and consequently they won and we lost.”
The game started in much the same way as the first game on Saturday. Nicole Barber singled to right field for Georgia. She stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Unlike Saturday’s game, LSU did not allow Barber to score, as Schmidt forced consecutive popouts to end the inning.
In the second inning, however, the Bulldogs put a run on the board. Shannon McKeon led off with a double down the left field line. She advanced to third on a passed ball by Leigh Ann Danos and scored on a single to right field by Courtney Knight.
After a single by Ashley Godfrey, Jade Jarvis lined out to Julie Wiese at third. Knight and Godfrey advanced to second and third on the play on an error by Tessa Lynam at first after mishandling the throw from Wiese.
Schmidt intentionally walked Barber to load the bases before Shawna Norris, pinch hitting for Katie Lewis, struck out to end the threat and the inning.
The Tigers broke through with their first baserunner of the game in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Megann Steege hit a single through the left side, but Sara Fitzgerald fouled out to the third baseman to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Georgia threatened again. Knight led off with a single to centerfield. With Amy Brannan pinch running for her, she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Schmidt again intentionally walked Barber. On the next play, Lewis reached on a fielder’s choice as the Tigers threw Brannan out at home trying to score from second to end the inning.
LSU mounted its best threat of the game in the top of the sixth inning.
Blair Smith led off the inning with a single up the middle. With two outs, LaDonia Hughes singled to left field to put runners on first and second, but Christy Connor grounded out to first base to end the inning.
Georgia added its second run of the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ashley Godfrey hit a 3-2 pitch over the fence in centerfield to give the Bulldogs the 2-0 lead. With two outs, Schmidt walked Barber, who stole second and third. A single by Katie Lewis scored Barber from third to put Georgia ahead 3-0.
After a miraculous comeback in the top of the seventh inning on Saturday, the Tigers attempts the same on Sunday. With two outs, Owen singled up the middle. Danos then doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third with the tying run at the plate in Smith, but she struck out looking to end the game.
LSU will conclude its three-series road swing at Mississippi State this week. The Tigers will take on the Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss., beginning with a doubleheader on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and concluding with a single game on Thursday at 4 p.m.