PLANT CITY, Fla. — After Kristin Schmidt threw nine shutout innings for the Tigers, freshman Lauren Delahoussaye knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the 12th-ranked LSU softball team defeated Tennessee, 1-0, in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Plant City Stadium.
With the win, the Tigers improved to 46-14 on the season and extend their SEC Tournament -record winning streak to nine games. The Lady Vols dropped to 43-24 on the year. LSU will advance to play second-seeded Alabama, which defeated seventh-seeded Auburn 4-0, on Friday at 5 p.m. CT. Tennessee falls into the losers bracket and will take on Auburn on Friday at 11 a.m. CT.
“Tennessee came out loose and played a great game,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “I thought we hit the ball hard early at times but we just couldn’t find the crease. We hit it hard, but right at people. I give my kids a lot of credit for continuing to fight.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Alicia Owen led off with a double to left centerfield. After an infield groundout by Wiese moved her to third, Tennessee intentionally walked Leigh Ann Danos and Blair Smith to load the bases.
Delahoussaye, pinch hitting for Megann Steege, then came on to face Stacey Jennings. On a 2-1 pitch, Delahoussaye knocked a single through the right side that scored Owen from third for the game winner.
“I am just really happy for Lauren Delahoussaye,” said Girouard. “She is a kid that just comes out everyday and gives it her all. She is the last one in the dugout. Things haven’t gone quite her way this year, but that was a huge hit for her.”
Schmidt earned her 14th complete-game shutout of the season to improve to 31-11 on the year. With her 35th complete game, she tied the LSU single-season record. In nine innings she allowed four hits and two walks while striking out six.
“Kristin was awesome,” said Girouard. “She threw very, very well. I think she will throw well all weekend. She knows that she has got to carry this workload and I think she is up to the challenge.”
In the top of the third inning, Ellisha Humphrey led off with a single for the Lady Vols. After being sacrificed to second, she moved to third on an infield groundout by Sarah Fekete. LSU got out of the inning on an infield popout by Kristi Durant.
The Tigers broke up Stephanie Humphrey’s bid for the no-hitter in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, Christy Connor singled to left field. Tessa Lynam then flew out to right field to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, LSU had its best scoring opportunity of the game. Owen led off with a single through the left side. A walk to Julie Wiese put runners on first and second. With two outs, Steege recorded an infield single to load the bases. LaDonia Hughes grounded out to second base to end the inning and the threat for the Tigers.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Tennessee got its second hit on a bunt single by Fekete. LSU got out of the inning on consecutive fly outs by Durant and Amber Rhinehart.
Sara Fitzgerald reached on an error by the shortstop to lead off the bottom of the sixth for the Tigers. After advancing to second on an infield groundout by Connor, she could get no further as Lynam struck out looking and Owen flew out to left field to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Hughes reached on an error to lead off.
After she was sacrificed to second, Tennessee intentionally walked Connor to put runners on first and second with one out. On a line shot by Lynam, the third baseman caught it for the second out. Durant attempted to pick off Stephanie Hill, pinch running for Connor at third, the ball went into right field. Hughes advanced to third on the play and was thrown out at home on the play trying to score the winning run.
“I was sending her the entire way,” said Girouard. “In that situation you are just trying to force people to make a play. Things weren’t quite going our way so you pull out all the stops and she’s the fastest kid on our team.”
Owen doubled to left center to lead off the ninth. After an infield groundout by Wiese moved Owen to third, the Lady Vols intentionally walked Danos and Smith. Delahoussaye then came on and knocked in the game-winning run on an RBI single through the right side.
Jennings took the loss for Tennessee to drop to 19-14 on the season. She allowed one run on two hits with three walks in two and a third innings.
Stephanie Humphrey started the game and went six innings. She allowed three hits and two walks while striking out two.
2003 Southeastern Conference Tournament
Plant City Stadium
Plant City, Fla.
May 7-11, 2003
Thursday, May 8
Game 1 — (3) LSU def. (6) Tennessee, 1-0 (9)
Game 2 — (2) Alabama def. (7) Auburn, 4-0
Game 3 — (5) Florida def. (4) South Carolina, 6-2
Game 4 — (1) Georgia def. (8) Mississippi State, 3-0
Friday, May 9
Game 5 — (6) Tennessee def. (7) Auburn, 4-3 (9) (Auburn eliminated)
Game 6 — (4) South Carolina def. (8) Mississippi State, 2-1(Mississippi State eliminated)
Game 7 — (2) Alabama def. (3) LSU, 3-1
Game 8 — (5) Florida def. (1) Georgia, 1-0
Saturday, May 10
Game 9 — (6) Tennessee def. (1) Georgia, 5-3 (8) (Georgia eliminated)
Game 10 — (3) LSU vs. (4) South Carolina, 2:30 p.m. (loser eliminated)
Game 11 — (2) Alabama vs. (6) Tennessee, 5 p.m.
Game 12 — (5) Florida vs. Winner of Game 10, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 11
Game 13 (if necessary) – Same two teams from Game 11 9 a.m.
Game 14 (if necessary) – Same two teams from Game 12 9 a.m.
Game 15 – SEC Tournament Championship (FOX SS) 12:30 p.m.