COLUMBIA, S.C. — LSU lost, 6-1, Saturday to South Carolina in a match that was closer than the score indicates, according to LSU head coach Tony Minnis.
“We competed well but we lost a couple of three-set matches,” Minnis said. “I thought we fought hard, but we just weren’t as tough competitively as I would like us to be right now.”
LSU’s Rocio Fantilli and Lauren Seaman won their match at No. 1 doubles, 8-5, but only after USC’s Danielle Wiggins and Magda Wojdylo clinched the doubles point with a win over Marina Chiarelli and Jessica Ferguson at No. 2.
Three singles went to tiebreakers or third sets. Fantilli won her first set but lost the second and third to Christyn Lucas at No. 2 singles.
LSU’s Camila Caliari played close to Miranda Gutierrez, but lost 7-5, 6-4. Daysi Espinal also won her first set but lost the second two at No. 6 singles.
Lauren Seaman earned the Lady Tigers’ only point of the match, edging Fallon Koon, 7-5, 7-6 (7) at No. 5 singles.
LSU (7-3, 0-2) continues SEC play next weekend on the road at Georgia and Tennessee.
South Carolina 6, LSU 1
Doubles
No. 1. Rocio Fantilli/Lauren Seaman (LSU) d. Christyn Lucas/Laura Ganzer (SC) 8-5
No. 2.Danielle Wiggins/Magda Wojdylo (SC) d. Jessica Ferguson/Marina Chiarelli (LSU) 8-6
No. 3. Miranda Gutierrez/Ayako Suzuki (SC) d. Camila Caliari/Daysi Espinal (LSU) 8-1
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
Singles:
No. 1 #85 Danielle Wiggins (SC) d. #77 Jessica Ferguson (LSU) 6-2,6-3
No. 2 Christyn Lucas (SC) d. Rocio Fantilli (LSU) 4-6,6-1,6-1
No. 3 Laura Ganzer (SC) d. Marina Chiarelli (LSU) 6-3,6-3
No. 4 Miranda Gutierrez (SC) d. Camila Caliari (LSU) 7-5,6-4
No. 5 Lauren Seaman (LSU) d. Fallon Koon (SC) 7-5,7-6(7)
No. 6 Justine Walsh (SC) d. Daysi Espinal (LSU) 3-6,6-1,6-2
Order of Finish: 3,1,4,2,5,6