ATHENS, Ga. — After a heartbreaking loss to No. 13 Georgia in the first game, 3-2, the 15th-ranked LSU softball team fell to the Bulldogs, 2-0, in the second game on Saturday afternoon at the UGA Soccer/Softball Complex.
With the losses, the Tigers fall to 17-7 on the year and 1-4 in Southeastern Conference play. Georgia improved to 24-7 overall and is undefeated at 8-0 in league play. The pair will complete the three-game series on Sunday with a single game beginning at noon (CST).
With LSU leading 2-0 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bulldogs put together six hits to score three runs to take the win. After loading the bases with no outs on three consecutive hits, the Tigers got the first out. Georgia got the first run before tying the game with two outs. With runners on the corners, Megan McAllister hit a bloop single that just fell in front of a diving Andrea Smith to score the game winner for the Bulldogs.
“We certainly played much better today,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “This team just needs something good to happen to them. The first game was almost like getting punched in the stomach. We had that game won, but give Georgia credit, they never died. In my 29 years of coaching, that’s the most bizarre way that I’ve had to lose a game. They had three seeing-eye singles to pull it out.”
In the second game it was a story of missed opportunities for LSU. The Tigers stranded nine base runners, including five in scoring position. Camille Harris was left on third after her first three plate appearances before being left on second to end the game.
“In the second one, it was a tale of our season right now,” said Girouard. “We left too many people on base and did not take advantage of our prime time opportunities. We could have blown the game away in the first and second innings and didn’t get it done. That’s kind of the bottom line for us right now. We’ll continue to play hard and hope that something starts to come our way.”
Harris led the way at the plate for the Tigers on the day. She went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run and scored a run. She also walked four times, including a school record-tying three times in the second game. After going 0-for-2 in the first game, Lauren Castle rebounded with a 3-for-3 performance in the second game to lead LSU. In the first game, Vanessa Soto went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, improving her season total to 12.
In the top of the third inning for the first game, Harris broke up the no-hitter by Michelle Green in a big way. Harris drove a 3-2 pitch over the 220 sign in straightaway center field to give the Tigers the 1-0 lead. It was Harris’ third home run of the season.
In the bottom half of the inning, Katie Vickers led off the inning with a single to left field for Georgia. On a fielder’s choice by Charvi Greer that failed to record an out on the play, Vickers advanced to second. On a sacrifice bunt attempt by Courtney Knight, Lauren Delahoussaye threw out Kelsey Todd, pinch running for Vickers, going to third.
A wild pitch sent Greer to third and Knight to second with one out. On a ground ball to first by Jessica Gilmore, Stephanie Hill threw out Greer trying to score form second. The Tigers then got out of the jam as Kim Wendland then flew out to right field to end the inning without a run.
Soto led off with a double to left center for LSU in the top of the fourth. With one out, an infield ground out to second by Leslie Klein moved Soto to third. Quinlan Duhon then singled through the right side to score Soto from third for the 2-0 Tiger lead.
In the top of the sixth, Soto led off with her second double of the game. With one out, she moved to third on a fly out to left field by Klein, but Duhon popped out to the second baseman in shallow left center to end the inning.
The Bulldogs threatened in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Wendland singled to center field. On a fielder’s choice by Megan McAllister, Greer, running for Wendland, was safe at second on a throwing error by Hill from first. With runners on first and second, Turner struck out Ashley Godfrey before Green flew out to left field to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Georgia broke up the shutout and posted three runs for the win. Three singles to lead off the inning loaded the bases with no outs. After a fielder’s choice got the runner out at home for one away, Gilmore singled in the first run with a bloop single to center field.
With the bases still loaded, Wendland singled to left field. Lewis came in to score on the play before Klein threw Courtney Knight out at the plate trying to score from second. With two outs and runners on the corners, McAllister hit a short pop up that fell between the circle and second base. The ball just got away from a diving Andrea Smith for the hit, scoring Gilmore from third for the winning run.
Turner took the complete-game loss for the Tigers to fall to 8-3 on the season. After allowing only three hits in the first six innings, she finished the game having allowed three runs on nine hits with a walk and one strikeout in six and two-thirds innings. Green earned the win for Georgia to improve to 11-2 on the year. She allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
In the top of the first inning of game two, LSU threatened early, loading the bases with no outs, but could not convert. Harris drew a leadoff walk. She then stole second. Castle reached on an infield single before a bloop single to left center by Soto loaded the bases.
On a line drive to first that was caught by Godfrey, Soto appeared to get back to the bag and was initially ruled safe. After the umpires convened at home, she was declared out for the double play. Klein then lined out to deep left field to end the inning.
The Tigers threatened again in the third inning. Harris again led off with a walk. An infield single by Castle put runners at first and second with no outs. A fielder’s choice by Soto got Castle at second and second Harris to third. Hill then grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Bulldogs got on the board first in the bottom of the third. With one out, Kasi Carroll reached on an infield single, just beating out a play at first. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lewis before a single to left field by Knight scored her from second for the 1-0 Georgia lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bulldogs added a second run as Godfrey led off with a solo home run to center field. Georgia had runners on second and third with one out before Megan Jolly got out of the inning with a double play. Knight lined back to Jolly, who doubled up Carroll at second to end the inning.
LSU attempted to rally in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Harris drew her third walk of the game. A single up the middle by Castle put the tying run on first and the go ahead run at the plate. Soto then grounded out to the shortstop to end the rally and the game.
Jolly took the complete-game loss for the Tigers to fall to 4-3 on the season. She allowed two runs on six hits. Jessica Doucette earned the complete-game win to improve to 3-1 on the year. In the shutout, she allowed seven runs and three walks and did not strike out a batter.
LSU 001 100 0 – 2 4 1
Georgia 000 000 3 – 3 9 0
Turner and Hobbs. Green and Greer. WP – Green (11-2). LP – Turner (8-3). HR – Harris. T – 2:10.
LSU 000 000 0 – 0 7 0
Georgia 001 010 x – 2 6 0
Jolly and Roessner. Doucette and Greer. WP – Doucette (3-1). LP – Jolly (4-3). HR – Godfrey. T – 1:30. A – 432.