GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 10th-ranked LSU softball team split a doubleheader at No. 25 Florida, winning the first game, 2-0, before falling, 8-4, in the second game.
The Tigers move to 45-13 overall and 20-8 in Southeastern Conference play, while Florida stands at 37-21 on the season and 18-11 in the league.
LSU is now guaranteed a second place finish in the SEC Western Division and a third place finish overall heading into the SEC Tournament next weekend in Plant City, Fla. The Tigers will take on the sixth-place team in the league, which will likely be Auburn, which LSU swept on the road last weekend.
“I thought we played really well in the first game,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “Right now we need to focus on the game tomorrow.”
Kristin Schmidt recorded her 13th complete-game shutout of the season to improve to 30-10. She becomes just the second pitcher in LSU history to record 30 victories in a year. The junior from Houston allowed five hits and one walk in the game. She also struck out 11, her second straight double-figure strikeout total and the seventh of the season.
“Kristin went out and gave one of the gutsiest performances I have seen in a long time,” said Girouard. “She has been battling a stomach virus over the last two days and still went out and did a great job for us today.”
LaDonia Hughes led the team with a 4-for-8 performance and a run scored in the doubleheader. Alicia Owen recorded a double and an RBI in the first game. Christy Connor hit her ninth home run of the season in game two, while Julie Wiese recorded her team-best 17th double with two RBIs in the second game.
Unfortunately, the doubleheader also took its toll on the team as several players fouled balls off their shins in the second game. Although everyone was able to continue play, Hughes, Wiese, Blair Smith and Sara Fitzgerald each finished the game hobbled by foul tip injuries.
“We are a beat up team right now,” said Girouard. “We need to fight though the injuries and put the pieces together to see who is left standing at the end of the game tomorrow.”
Florida threatened early in game one. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Schmidt gave up a walk and back-to-back singles to load the bases.
She got out of the inning with her second strikeout of the game, ending the threat.
The Tigers broke through in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Tessa Lynam drew a walk. On a double to left center by Owen, Lynam came around to score on a close play at the plate for the 1-0 LSU lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Tigers extended the lead to 2-0. Wiese and Lynam led off the inning with back-to-back singles. With one out, Jennie Reeves reached on a fielder’s choice as the Gators failed to get Wiese out advancing to third. A single up the middle by Smith then scored Lynam from third.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Florida recorded back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. Schmidt then got Jackie Marchetta to fly out to centerfield before Laura Templeton struck out to end the game.
Jenny Gladding took the loss for Florida to drop to 19-12 on the season. She allowed two runs on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in five and a third innings. Amanda Moore came on relief in the top of the sixth to throw an inning a two-thirds. She did not allow a hit with one strikeout.
In the second game, the Tigers took no time in taking the early lead. With one out, Fitzgerald doubled to right center. Connor then nailed her ninth home run of the season to right center for the 2-0 LSU advantage.
Florida stormed back to take the 4-2 lead on a grand slam in the bottom half of the inning. After Lynam walked the bases loaded, she gave up the bases clearing home run to Lindsey Cameron.
The Tigers threatened in the top of the second. With one out, Leigh Ann Danos drew a walk. On an infield single by Blair Smith, Reeves, pinch running for Danos, advanced to second and put runners on first and second.
After a fielder’s choice by Megann Steege got Reeves at third, Hughes singled to load the bases. Fitzgerald struck out to end the inning with the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the third, Florida added another run. With one out, Florida recorded three singles in a row to load the bases, Cameron then hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Jennifer Brown, pinch running for Gladding at third. Lynam then got Andrea Magura to strikeout looking to end the inning.
With three runs in the bottom of the fourth, the Gators extended their lead to 8-2. Florida took advantage of two LSU errors and four stolen bases in the inning, four of the eight stolen bases for Florida in the game, along with three hits to take its largest lead of the game.
In the top of the fifth, the Tigers got two runs back, cutting the Gator lead to 8-4. Steege and Hughes led off the inning with back-to-back singles.
After Fitzgerald came up just short of a home run to left field and Wiese hit one out of the park just foul down the left field line. Wiese came back to double to right centerfield, scoring both Steege and Hughes.
Lynam recorded the complete-game loss to fall to 15-3 on the season. She allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 11 hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Mandy Schuerman started the game for Florida. She went a third of an inning, allowing two runs on two hits with a walk. Amanda Moore came on in relief to throw six and two-thirds innings. She allowed two runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
The series will conclude with a single game on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT. The contest marks the final regular game for LSU before the SEC Tournament, which begins on May 8 and runs through May 12. The Tigers are the two-time defending tournament champions and have won three of the last four.