SEATTLE — After battling back and forth throughout the game, the sixth-ranked LSU softball team came up just short against 14th-ranked Washington, 6-3, on the final day of competition at the University of Washington Tournament Sunday afternoon at the Husky Softball Stadium.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 21-3 on the season and 2-2 in tournament play, while the Huskies finished the tournament at 3-0 and improved to 15-2 overall. After LSU took two wins from Washington at the Easton Tiger Classic last year in Baton Rouge, the Huskies took a pair from the Tigers this year in Seattle in the return trip, which LSU knew coming in would be a tough test early in the season.
“It was not exactly the weekend that we designed, but one that I kind of expected,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “There were a lot of elements to battle this weekend and a lot of adversities to overcome. We didn’t do that. This is a game that we could have won this afternoon.”
The Tigers knew that in addition to a tough opponent, they would be tested because of injuries. LSU is playing with several players out of position and several key players injured. With both third basemen out with broken fingers, utility player Erika Sluss, who has seen time at five positions in her career, is filling in at third base, but is also not at full speed while dealing with a leg injury. The loss of Shannon Stein at second base shifted Vanessa Soto back to second after playing first through out the 2007 season and sent catcher Kristen Hobbs to first. Many other players are also battling pretty sever bumps and bruises that almost cost them playing time this weekend as well.
“We’ve just got to get back home and refocus,” said Girouard. “We don’t know if we’re going to get any of our starters back for the start of conference play so we’ve got to all get on the same page and go forward.”
With all of those adversities in play, the Tigers put up a valiant effort against Washington as the pair battled back and forth for much of the game before the Huskies took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. Four LSU players earned all-tournament team honors, including Roessner, Emily Turner, Leslie Klein and Dee Dee Henderson.
Roessner, Klein and Henderson tied for the team lead in batting average for the week, all posting a .500 mark. Roessner went 5-for-10 with two doubles and five RBIs with a run scored. Klein was also 5-for-10 with a double, two RBIs, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Henderson went 4-for-8 with two stolen bases and three runs scored. Turner was 1-1 in the circle, with a shutout win over Portland State. Against Washington, she carried a shutout into the bottom of the ninth inning before giving up the game-winning home run. She struck out 13 and walked just three in 15.1 innings.
Dani Hofer took the loss for LSU, her first loss of the season, to fall to 8-1 on the year. She allowed six runs on six hits with seven walks and seven strikeouts in the complete game. It marked the most walks Hofer has allowed in her two seasons with the Tigers.
“We’ve got to get a lot tougher mentally and not allow the umpire to dictate anything to us,” said Girouard. “Although when you look at line scores and see how many walks we gave up, that’s not common to our pitching. “
After recording just one hit against the Huskies on Saturday, the Tigers led off with a hit in the top of the first on a single to left center by Jazz Jackson to start play on Sunday. Jackson moved to second on a sacrifice by Henderson. With two outs, Klein walked. LSU, however, could not push a run across as Vanessa Soto struck out to end the inning.
Walks hurt the Tigers in the bottom half of the inning as Hofer walked the bases loaded. It appeared as through she might get out of the inning unscathed as she had two outs on Danielle Lawrie with two outs, but Lawrie blooped a single just over first base that scored the first run of the game as Washington took the 1-0 lead.
LSU tied it up in the top of the second as the Tigers capitalized on Husky miscues. With one out, Kristin Hobbs reached on a fielding error by the Washington third baseman. Sluss then reached on a walk. A double to left field by Andrea Smith scored Hobbs from second as LSU evened the game, 1-1.
Walks again proved costly in the bottom half of the inning for the Tigers. With two outs, Ashley Charters drew her second walk. Marnie Koziol then singled down the left field line and advanced to second as Charters moved to third. A walk to Dominique Lastrapes loaded the bases before Hofer walked in a run on a walk to Dena Tyson. Alicia Matthews then ended the inning on a fielder’s choice.
For the second straight inning, LSU came back to tie the game in the top half of the following inning. With one out, Klein singled up the middle. She then stole second. With two outs, Roessner’s ball found its way up the middle just enough to allow Klein to score from second for the 2-2 score.
In the top of the fourth, the Tigers took their first lead of the game, again using Washington miscues caused by LSU pressure on the Husky defense. With two outs, Jackson and Henderson recorded back-to-back singles. With Rachel Mitchell at the plate, she reached on a bobbled play at first on the quick throw from third on what would have been a bang-bang play. That drop allowed Jackson to come around and score from second.
The back and forth nature of the game continued in the bottom of the fourth as the Huskies retook the lead. Dani Stuart was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. A single through the left side by Charters put runners on first and second. On a sacrifice bunt attempt by Koziol, everyone was safe as Sluss’ throw to third was not in time to get Stuart.
Lastrapes then came up with an RBI single to center field that Klein made a great play on to keep only one run from scoring. After a Hofer strikeout, Matthews flied out to left field. On the play, Charters slid in just ahead of the tag of Roessner at the plate. Hofer then struck out Lawrie to end the inning with Washington leading 4-3.
The big blow for the Tigers came in the bottom of the sixth. With two out, Lastrapes drew a walk. Tyson then hit a 2-1 pitch over the center field fence to extend the Huskies’ lead to 6-3.
LSU would not go away quietly as the Tigers led off the top of the seventh with a double to left center by Soto. She then moved to third on a passed ball. Unfortunately, LSU could get nothing more as the final three Tiger batters were retired in order to end the game.
Caitlin Noble earned the win for Washington to improve to 5-1 on the year. She allowed three runs, one earned, on six hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in four innings. Lawrie earned her first save in relief as she allowed just one hit with two walks and five strikeouts in three innings for the Huskies.
The Tigers return home next week for a mid-week game against McNeese State on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on Cox Sports Television in Baton Rouge on cable channel 37. LSU will then hit the road again to open SEC play at Ole Miss next weekend.