KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The third-ranked LSU softball team split a Southeastern Conference doubleheader with 13th-ranked Tennessee, winning the first game, 2-1, before dropping the second game, 4-0, and snapping a 17-game win streak.
With the split, the Tigers moved to 22-4 on the year and 4-1 in SEC play. The Lady Vols moved to 19-5 overall and 1-1 in league play.
LSU got timely hitting in the first game and strong pitching by Kristin Schmidt to defeat Tennessee. In the second game, the Lady Vols scored four runs in the first and held the Tigers scoreless to take the win.
“I was disappointed in the loss in the second game after taking the win in the first,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We hit the ball hard, but it was always right at people. That first inning in the second game just killed us. I think we learned a lesson from this that you have to prepare for both ends of the doubleheader and we will come out of this more prepared for the future.”
In game one, LSU took the early lead on a solo home run by Leslie Klein in the top of the first inning. For Klein, the shot to straight away center field was her team-leading seventh of the season.
The Lady Vols came back to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Sarah Fekete was hit by a pitch. She then advanced to third on a single to right field by Lauren Mattox. A single through the right side by Amber Rhinehart scored Fekete for the 1-1 score.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Tigers once again took the lead. Stephanie Hill led off with a single that ricocheted off of pitcher Monica Abbott’s leg. With Lauren Uhle pinch running, she stole second. With one out, Uhle scored on a single through the right side by Leigh Ann Danos for the 2-1 LSU advantage.
After the first inning, Tiger pitcher Kristin Schmidt threw six innings of shutout softball on her way to the victory. The win improved her to 12-2 on the year. She allowed one run on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
After 17 consecutive wins, Abbott took her second straight loss for Tennessee to drop to 17-2 on the year. She allowed two runs on five hits with a walk and nine strikeouts.
In the second game, the Lady Vols jumped out quickly with four runs in the bottom of the first. Lindsay Schutzler led off with a single to left field. Ashley Cline then singled off the wall in center field as Schutlzler advanced to second. A walk to Lauren Mattox loaded the bases before Amber Rhinehart knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice that got Mattox going to second.
With runners on first and third, Kristi Durant hit into a fielder’s choice that got Cline out at the plate. A walk to Katherine Card once again loaded the bases. Angela Brewer then hit a line shot to center field that LaDonia Hughes made a running leap for, but it tipped off of her glove for a bases clearing double and a 4-0 Tennessee lead.
The Tigers had runners on base in every inning except the fifth and put players in scoring position in both the second, third and seventh, but could not push a run across. In the third inning, Camille Harris was thrown out at the plate and in the second and seventh, the runners were stranded at second. LSU hit the ball hard throughout the game, but Tennessee made several outstanding defensive plays to keep the Tigers from scoring.
Emily Turner took the loss for LSU to drop to 9-2 on the year. She allowed four runs, all in the first inning, on eight hits with six walks and two strikeouts.
Stacey Jennings earned the complete-game shutout for Tennessee to improve to 2-3 on the season. She allowed five hits and three walks with four strikeouts.
The Tigers remain on the road this week as LSU travels to take on Southern Miss on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Tigers then return to SEC action next weekend against No. 14 South Carolina at home with a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon and concluding with a single game on Sunday at noon.
LSU 100 100 0 – 2 5 0
Tennessee 100 000 0 – 1 6 0
Schmidt and Danos. Abbott and Bessho. W – Danos (12-2). L – Abbott (17-2). HR – Klein. T – 2:15.
LSU 000 000 0 – 0 5 1
Tennessee 400 000 x – 4 8 1
Turner and Danos. Jennings and Mattox. W – Jennings (2-3). L – Turner (9-2). T – 1:50. A – 503.