BATON ROUGE — Despite a three-hitter by Dani Hofer, the 19th-ranked LSU softball team could not push a run across as No. 6 Stanford scored one in the bottom of the seventh to take the win, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon in the Palm Springs Classic.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 16-3 on the season as they ended 2-3 in tournament play, with all three losses to teams ranked 11th or higher. The Cardinal improved to 14-2 on the season with the win and concluded the tournament at 5-2.
After a two-hit loss to No. 3 UCLA on Friday, Hofer (5-2) allowed three hits, but was unable to earn the win. The freshman from Palm Harbor, Fla., walked four in the game, two intentionally, with seven strikeouts in six and two-thirds inning.
“This was truly a great collegiate game,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “I thought Dani Hofer probably threw the best game she’s thrown since she’s been at LSU. The stats may not look like that, but she controlled an extremely good hitting team, probably a top-five hitting team in the country. Her change-up was on so everything else looked good.”
LSU could not come up with the hit with runners in scoring position. Despite only recording one hit, the Tigers had four runners in scoring position, including one a third, but could not push a run across, stranding six total in the game.”
“The defense was there, but we just never got the clutch hit all weekend,” said Girouard. “We out-hit almost every opponent and lost three games. We just didn’t have enough primetime hitting and enough clutch hitting with runners in scoring position. The team played hard, but it just didn’t happen today.”
LSU got its first scoring opportunity in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Camille Harris reached on a throwing error. After she stole second, Lauren Castle drew a walk. Vanessa Soto was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Stephanie Hill then struck out to end the inning.
After facing the minimum through three and a third innings, Hofer allowed her first hit, a double to left center. She then struck out the next batter and got a foul out to first to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Castle reached after a strikeout and a wild pitch. With Dee Dee Henderson running for Castle, Henderson moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Tigers could not push the run across, however, as Hill fouled out and Lesli Klein struck out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the sixth, Anna Beardman drew a walk with one out. She stole second, and moved to third on a ground out. Hofer intentionally walked Lauren Lappin and Maddy Coon to load the bases before getting Michelle Smith to ground out to end the inning.
LSU had another opportunity in the top of the seventh. Fallon Fisher was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. With Erika Sluss running for Fisher, she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt with one out. Quinlan Duhon then flew out to right field to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jackie Rinehart led off with a bloop double to left center. With two outs, Lindsay Key drew a walk. Beardman then singled to center field, as Rinehart scored just ahead of the tag at the plate to give the Cardinal the win.
Missy Penna earned the win in relief. She allowed one walk with three strikeouts in two and two-thirds inning to improve to 8-2 on the season. Becky McCullough started and allowed one hit with a walk and three strikeouts in four and a third innings.
LSU will now return home to host a single game against Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Tigers then travel to Norman, Okla., to participate in the Nike/Oklahoma invitational. LSU will play two games against Oklahoma and Troy in the tournament.