FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A pair of uncharacteristic errors led to two unearned runs that proved to be the difference, as the 10th-ranked LSU softball team fell to Arkansas, 3-2, on Tuesday evening at Lady’Back Yard.
The loss drops the Tigers to 44-8 on the season and 17-5 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Lady’Backs improved to 25-28 on the year and 9-15 in league play. Due to weather, only a single game was played on Tuesday. The pair will now play a doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m.
Despite out hitting Arkansas, 6-4, it was two errors by LSU that was the difference in the game. It snapped a four-game run of games without an error for the Tigers, coincidently matching their four-game winning streak. The last time LSU had committed an error was in the second game against Alabama, when the Tigers lost after committing two errors.
Arkansas used the first error to get on the board in the first innings. LSU came back to tie it up in the top of the fourth, but the Lady’Backs used the Tigers’ second error of the game to retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Arkansas got its only earned run of the game in the bottom of the sixth on a home run by Shana Easley. LSU would not go quietly as the Tigers got a home run from Andrea Smith in the top of the seventh, but could not push across the tying run.
Emily Turner took the loss to fall to 20-4 on the season. She allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. She did, however, commit one of the errors that cost LSU a run in the bottom of the fourth.
In the bottom of the first, Arkansas got on the scoreboard. Mindy O’Malley drew a leadoff walk. On a fielder’s choice, Rachel LeMaster reached as O’Malley was out at second. A fielding error by Lauren Delahoussaye at third allowed Kayla Johnson allowed her to reach as LeMaster advanced to second.
A single to left field by Sandra Smith loaded the bases. On a bunt by Blaire Perry, she beat out the throw to first, allowing LeMaster to score from third to give the Lady’Backs the 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Tigers came back to tie the game. Vanessa Soto led off the inning with a single up the middle. With two outs, Quinlan Duhon singled through the left side, moving Erika Sluss, pinch running for Soto, to second. A single through the right side by Lauren Delahoussaye scored Sluss from second to tie the game at 1-1.
A second LSU error proved costly again in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jocelyne Moncrief reached on a throwing error by Turner and advanced to second. A ground out by O’Malley moved Moncrief to third. On a fielder’s choice by LeMaster that dribbled in front of the plate, Moncrief scored from third.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Lady’Backs got their first earned run of the game. Shana Easley led off with a home run to left field to extend Arkansas’ lead to 3-1. The Tigers clawed back with two outs in the top of the seventh. Smith drove the first pitch over the center field fence to get within one, 3-2. LSU, however, could not complete the comeback as Castle struck out swinging to end the game.
Katy Henry earned the complete-game win to improve to 14-13 on the season for Arkansas. She allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
LSU will return home for its final regular season games of the year. The Tigers will host nationally ranked Florida beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and concluding with single game on Sunday at 1p.m. for Senior Day.