ATHENS, Ga. — The 15th-ranked LSU softball team came up short against No. 13 Georgia, 4-1, in the Southeastern Conference series finale on Sunday afternoon at the UGA Softball Complex.
With the loss, the Tigers fell to 17-8 overall and 1-5 in conference play. With their sweep of the LSU, the Bulldogs improved to 25-7 on the season and 9-0 in league action, ending LSU’s streak of 74 consecutive SEC series without being swept, dating back to a two-game series against South Carolina in 1997.
“We just have to find a way to get better,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We’ve got the week of spring break and then we have Alabama coming in. We’ve just got to continue to work. Although we lost the series, we saw some positive sings in that we hung with Georgia and we had every opportunity to stay in the game or win the game. I’m going to look at it from a positive stand point and we’ve just got to stay upbeat with our young team.”
In the top of the seventh inning, LSU mounted a rally, putting the tying run at the plate with two outs, but the Tigers could not push the runs across as Lauren Castle lined out to the third baseman to end the game.
Quinlan Duhon went 2-for-3 on the day for LSU, while Stephanie Hill recorded her fifth home run of the season on an inside the park hit to right center field.
Emily Turner started and took the loss for the Tigers to fall to 8-4 on the season. She allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits with a walk in a third of an inning. Megan Jolly came on in relief and allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with a walk in five and two-thirds innings.
In the bottom of the first, Georgia struck first. With one out, Jessica Gilmore reached on a fielding error by Turner. A single to left field by Kim Wendland sent Gilmore to second. On a double to right center by Megan McAllister, Gilmore scored and Wendland moved to third.
With Charvi Greer running for Wendland at third, on a hot shot to Lauren Delahoussaye by Jessica Doucette, Delahoussaye could not get Greer at the plate as the Bulldogs extended the lead to 2-0.
A walk to Ashley Godfrey loaded the bases before Turner was replaced by Jolly in the circle with one out. Michelle Green then hit a line shot to third base that Delahoussaye caught and tagged out McAllister for the double play to end the inning.
In the top of the second, Leslie Klein led off with an infield single deep in the hole at shortstop. She stole second to give LSU its first runner in scoring position, but the Tigers could not take advantage as Duhon and Delahoussaye struck out and Andrea Smith fouled out to the second baseman to end the inning.
The Tigers once again got a runner in scoring position in the top of the third inning. With one out, Camille Harris singled up the middle. With two outs, she stole second, but could get no further as Vanessa Soto grounded out to the shortstop.
Georgia added a third run in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Doucette doubled down the left field line. An infield single by Godfrey moved Doucette to third and she scored on a throwing error by Jolly to give the Bulldogs the 3-0 advantage.
With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Hill drove a line shot to right center field. Right fielder Godfrey and center fielder Knight collided, allowing Hill to record the inside-the-park home run. Both players were down on the field for several minutes before Victoria Sanders went in to replace Godfrey. Knight remained in the game for Georgia as LSU cut the lead to 3-1.
In the bottom half of the inning, Georgia got the run back. Doucette led off with a double down the left field line. She moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single up the middle by Katie Vickers.
In the top of the seventh inning, LSU mounted its best rally of the game. Duhon led off with a single up the middle. With two outs, Killian Roessner singled through the left side, sending Duhon to third as Roessner took second. Harris then drew a walk to load the bases. Castle then lined out to the third baseman to end the game and the rally with the go-ahead run at the plate.
Green earned the win for Georgia to improve to 12-2 on the season. She allowed one run on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in the complete-game effort.
LSU returns home to open league play at Tiger Park next weekend against nationally ranked Alabama. The Tigers will take on the Crimson Tide in a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 6 p.m. before closing out the series with a single game on Saturday at 2 p.m.
LSU 000 001 0 – 1 6 2
Georgia 201 001 x – 4 9 0
Turner, Jolly (1) and Roessner. Green and Greer. WP – Green (12-2). LP – Turner (8-4). HR – Hill. T – 1:52. A – 873.