HOUSTON — The fifth-ranked LSU softball team saw its 11-game season opening win streak come to an end as the Tigers fell to Southern Illinois, 8-5, on Sunday afternoon at the Cougar Softball Complex in the final day of the Crowne Plaza Invitational.
The loss dropped LSU to 11-1 on the season, while the Salukis, who are receiving votes in the national polls, improved to 7-2. The Tigers finished play in the tournament at 4-1, tying Southern Illinois for the best record of the seven-team field.
Home runs doomed the LSU effort as the Tigers gave up seven runs on four home runs. LSU did produce five doubles in the game, but also stranded seven on base, including five in scoring position. The Tigers did send the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but a strikeout concluded the game.
“It was a rough day at the ballpark for us,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “All the credit has to go to Southern Illinois. They came ready to play today and they swung the bats.”
Emily Turner started and took the loss for LSU to fall to 4-1 on the season. She allowed three runs on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts in four innings. Dani Hofer come on in relief and allowed five runs, four earned, on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
“You have to keep the ball in the ballpark because you can’t defend the ball over the fence,” said Girouard. ”I don’t think that we’ll have another day where both pitchers are out of it a little bit. We’ll use this as a learning experience and get better on the mound.”
The wind helped the Tigers jump out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Jazz Jackson led off with a double off the glove shortstop Becky Wegmann just inside the foul line behind third base. She then advanced to third on a throwing error by Wegmann.
On a ball hit into left center by Rachel Mitchell, the wind held it up as it dropped just out of reach of the shortstop and left fielder. Jackson came around to score as Mitchell earned the double.
Again the wind played a part in LSU’s scoring in the second. Killian Roessner hit a ball to right center that the center fielder lost in the sun and wind, which dropped for a double. With Erika Sluss running at second for Roessner, a double to right center by Shannon Stein scored Sluss for the 2-0 Tiger lead.
Katie Warner led off the top of the third with a solo home run. The ball just stayed inside the left field foul pole to put Southern Illinois on the board.
The Saluki’s third hit of the game also came on a home run. With one out, Amanda Clifton doubled to left field. Katie Schmidt came in to run for Clifton at second. With two outs, Katie Wilson hit a home run to left center to put SIU ahead, 3-2.
In the top of the fifth, Southern Illinois added to its lead. With two outs, Tiffanie Dismore reached on a fielding error by Hofer in the circle. Alicia Garza then doubled to left center to score Dismore from first for the 4-2 lead.
LSU got the run back in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Mitchell drew a walk. Leslie Klein then doubled down the right field line to put runners on second and third. A sacrifice fly by Quinlan Duhon scored Mitchell from third.
With one out in the top of the sixth, Jayme Wamsley drew a walk. Wilson then hit her second home run of the game as SIU took the 6-3 advantage.
The first home run of the season by LSU third baseman Tayl’r Hollis in the bottom half of the sixth got the Tigers to within two once again, 6-4.
LSU was once again hurt by the home run in the top of the seventh. With one out, Garza drew a walk. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Amanda Clifton then hit a home run down the left field line. It was the third home run of the day to just stay fair for the Salukis as SIU went into the bottom half of the inning leading 8-4.
The Tigers would not go away quietly in the seventh. With one out, Mitchell recorded her second hit of the game. On a ground out by Klein, Mitchell moved to second. Duhon was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. A hard single to center field by Vanessa Soto allowed Mitchell to score and send Duhon to third. With the tying run at the plate, Roessner went to a full count and fouled off three more before going down swinging to end the game.
Ashley Hamby started and earned the win for Southern Illinois to improve to 4-1 on the year. She allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits with two walks and a strikeout in four and a third innings. Cassidy Scroggins came on to earn her first save of the year. She allowed two runs on three hits with two strikeouts over the final two and two-thirds.
The Tigers return home to host the Easton Purple & Gold Challenge next weekend. LSU will take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss and Troy in the three-day tournament.