Sacrifices Carry Softball to Tourney Win Over USC in 10
AUBURN, Ala. — With a walk-off sacrifice fly by Killian Roessner that scored Jazz Jackson, the second-seeded LSU softball team earned a 2-1 win over seventh-seeded South Carolina in 10 innings in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon at the Jane B. Moore Field.
With the win, the Tigers earned their 50th win of the season, having reached the half century mark in nine of the last 10 seasons. The Gamecocks dropped to 34-23 on the year. LSU will now advance to face third-seeded Alabama, which was a 3-2 winner over sixth-seeded Georgia in nine innings.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, Jackson reached on a six-pitch walk. On the second double of the game by Rachel Mitchell, Jackson advanced to third. Roessner then came up with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Jackson from third just ahead of the tag of McKenna Hughes to win the game.
“The best thing about this game is that we live to play tomorrow,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “Hopefully we can get in sync offensively. I knew we were going to have trouble with them. They have a quality pitcher, who kept us off balance and they made some great plays defensively.
Dani Hofer pitched a career high 10 innings, going the entire way for the Tigers. The sophomore gave up one run on six hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. After giving up a fifth inning home run to Hughes, Hofer allowed only two hits over the final four innings. With runners on first and third with one out in the eighth, she got a pop out and strikeout looking to end the inning before retiring the next six batters in order to end the game.
Mitchell led LSU at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance, including two doubles and a run scored. Shannon Stein also recorded multiple hits, going 2-for-4 in the game. With an 0-for-4 mark, Jackson ended her 13-game hitting streak, the sixth longest in school history.
“Rachel Mitchell came up with a couple of big blows and just got it done,” said Girouard. “It was a great game.”
South Carolina left nine on base in the game, including three in scoring position, scoring only one run on the solo home run. The Tigers left seven on base, with two in scoring position and two more that were doubled off of second base. Hitting the ball hard, but right at people, LSU has now hit into five double plays in the last two games.
After Hughes’ solo home run with two outs in the top of the fifth, the Tigers responded with their first run in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie it up. Mitchell led off with her first double of the game. With one out, the Gamecocks intentionally walked Leslie Klein. A single by Stein then loaded the bases. On a deep fly ball to center field by Vanessa Soto, Mitchell scored from third.
Melissa Hendon took the complete-game loss for South Carolina to fall to 17-16 on the season. She allowed two runs on seven hits with four walks, two intentional to Klein, with seven strikeouts.
The Tigers took 3-of-4 meetings with the Gamecocks this season and improved to 23-11 all-time. South Carolina won the first game against LSU, 2-1, but the Tigers have come back to win the last three, including an 8-0 win in five innings. LSU is also now 3-1 against the Gamecocks in SEC Tournament play.
The Tigers have now participated in all 11 conference tournaments in the league’s history. LSU owns a 31-11 overall record in SEC Tournament play, and have won the tournament a conference-record four times ? 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004. The Tigers have advanced through the tournament into the championship game in seven of the last eight seasons, including last year when LSU lost to Tennessee, 3-0.
2007 SEC Softball Tournament
Day One – Thursday, May 10
Game 1 #3 Alabama def. #6 Georgia, 3-2 (9)
Game 2 #2 LSU def. #7 South Carolina, 2-1 (10)
Game 3 #4 Florida def. #5 Mississippi State, 3-0
Game 4 #1 Tennessee def. #8 Ole Miss, 6-0
Day Two – Friday, May 11
Game 5 #3 Alabama vs. #2 LSU, 5 p.m.
Game 6 #4 Florida vs. #1 Tennessee, 7:30 p.m.
Day Three – Saturday, May 12
Game 7 Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner Noon (Fox Sports)