PLANT CITY, Fla. — After 21 consecutive shutout innings in Southeastern Conference Tournament play, the 12th-ranked LSU softball team allowed three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, dropping a 3-1 decision to No. 16 Alabama in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Friday evening at Plant City Stadium.
The loss, the first for LSU head coach Yvette Girouard in conference tournament play, ended the Tigers’ league record nine-game SEC tournament winning streak, dropping them to 46-15 on the year. The Crimson Tide improved to 43-19 on the season and continue play in the winner’s bracket.
LSU will now take on No. 20 South Carolina on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. CT. If the Tigers win, they will advance to take on the winner of the No. 9 Georgia-No. 24 Florida game at 7 p.m. CT.
“Give credit to Alabama, they seem to have a knack for doing this,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “They got it done in a primetime situation and we didn’t and really that is the bottom line.
“We had some opportunities that we absolutely did not cash in on and that will usually come back and haunt you. It’s a big battle ahead of us, but it’s been a battle all year. We just have to keep plugging away.”
LSU got on the board first with a run in the top of the sixth inning. The Tigers used two walks and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. A passed ball by Alabama catcher Lacy Prejean allowed Sara Fitzgerald to score from third for the only LSU run.
After facing just one over the minimum through the first five innings, a bunt single in the first inning, the Tigers gave up three hits and two intentional walks in the home half of the sixth as Alabama scored three runs to take the victory.
“We talk about finishing the game whether it is a pitcher that has to throw 20 innings and get it done or a hitter that has to,” said Girouard. “We just have to be a little tougher than this, but we played well. They had a seeing-eye ball and we didn’t. For six innings I think we hit the ball harder than they did. “
Kristin Schmidt went the distance for LSU. She allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Before allowing the three runs in the sixth, she had thrown 15 consecutive scoreless innings in SEC Tournament play.
LSU threatened in the top of the third inning. Blair Smith led off the inning with an infield single. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Megann Steege. On a single to left field by LaDonia Hughes, Fitzgerald moved to third and Hughes advanced to second. Alabama then intentionally walked Christy Connor to load the bases before Alicia Owen struck out swinging to end the inning, three of the seven batters the Tigers would leave on base in the game.
In the top of the sixth, LSU loaded the bases once again. Fitzgerald walked to lead off the inning. With one out, Stephanie VanBrackle hit Alicia Owen.
A walk to Jennie Reeves loaded them up before a passed ball scored Fitzgerald from third as LSU took the 1-0 lead.
After a bunt single in the first inning, Schmidt was perfect until the sixth when Staci Ramsey singled to right field to lead off the inning.
Deasy Phillips then reached on a bunt single to advance Ramsey to second. A sacrifice bunt by Jennifer Reach put runners on second and third with one out.
“They put down a perfect bunt,” Girouard said of Phillips’ bunt. “We needed an out in that situation and we didn’t get it. To their credit, they executed.”
An intentional walk to Ashley Courtney then loaded the bases for Alabama.
On an infield groundout by Jackie Wilkins, Ramsey scored from third to tie the game. Jackie McClain then drew an intentional walk to load the bases for a second time. On a single through the right side by VanBrackle, Phillips and Courtney came around to score. As VanBrackle attempted to move to second, McClain tried to score and was gunned down at home with the Crimson Tide leading 3-1.
LSU had one last opportunity in the top of the seventh, but could come up with the runs it needed. With two outs, LaDonia Hughes was hit by a pitch brining the tying run to the plate, but Fitzgerald struck out swinging to end the game.
VanBrakle got the complete-game win for Alabama to improve to 16-5 on the year. She allowed one unearned run on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
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.