STARKVILLE, Miss. — After two come-from-behind victories on Saturday, the 11th-ranked LSU softball team could not overcome five errors, dropping a 6-2 decision to Mississippi State on Sunday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.
The Tigers fell to 25-10 overall and 6-5 in the Southeastern Conference, while the Bulldogs improved to 24-14 overall and 4-8 in league play.
Kristin Schmidt took the loss for LSU, although only one of the Bulldogs’ six runs was earned as LSU tied the school record with the five errors. Falling to 14-9 on the season, she allowed nine hits with three walks, while striking out seven.
LSU got on the board in the top of the second inning. Julie Wiese led off with a walk. She advanced to second on a single through the right side by Christy Connor. A walk to Alicia Owen loaded the bases. After a strikeout by Jennie Reeves, Blair Smith drew her team-best 19th walk of the season to score Wiese from third.
Fitzgerald then reached on a fielder’s choice as Connor was thrown out at home. The inning ended as Mississippi State pitcher Jennifer Nelson caught a line shot by LaDonia Hughes with the Tigers leading 1-0.
The Bulldogs used two errors by Smith to take the lead in the bottom of the second. With two outs Kate Jaspers doubled to right field. She moved to third on the first error by Smith and scored on the second error, as Lindsay Nelson and Krystal Tillman were on first and second. Lindsay Nelson then scored on a base hit to centerfield by Jennifer Nelson, as Tillman moved to third and Jennifer Nelson advanced to second on the throw. Schmidt then struck out Brooke Best to end the inning.
Mississippi State added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Iyhia McMichael led off with a walk. She advanced to third on a single up the middle by Jennifer Waterman as Waterman advanced to second on the throw. After Meagan O’Nan came in to pinch run for Waterman, Schmidt then hit Jennifer Jessup to load the bases with no outs.
On a sacrifice fly by Tanelda McDonald, McMichael scored from third. O’Nan also scored from second after being caught in a rundown as Fitzgerald threw the ball off her head and it rolled into the Bulldogs dugout, moving Jessup to third. Jessup then scored on a bunt single by Lindsay Nelson as no one covered first for the Tigers.
Mississippi State tacked on a sixth run in the bottom of the fifth inning. McDonald hit an infield single. She advanced to third on a single by Jaspers. With two outs, Tillman hit a bunt single, but Fitzgerald dropped the throw from Wiese at first, allowing McDonald to score from third for the 6-1 Bulldog advantage.
LSU got one run back in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Camille Harris hit a bunt single. She stole second and advanced to third on an infield groundout by Wiese. Connor then singled up the middle to score Harris from third to cut the Mississippi State lead to 6-2.
The Tigers return home to take on No. 18 Alabama in a three-game series at Tiger Park beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 4 p.m. LSU will attempt to “Pack the Park” for the doubleheader on Saturday. Tickets are available at all area Winn-Dixie stores. The series will conclude on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m.