BATON ROUGE – Tammy Wray was hit-by-a-pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth inning to propel the No. 25 LSU softball team to a 2-1 victory over No. 24 Kentucky during the middle game of a weekend series Saturday in-front of 1,273 fans at Tiger Park.
The Tigers (16-12, 1-6 SEC) ended their seven-game losing streak as Brittany Mack went the distance in the circle to earn her sixth win of the season. She allowed one run on four hits and tallied five strikeouts against four walks.
Chanda Bell was dealt the loss for Kentucky and dropped to 7-3 on the season. She was touched up for two runs on two hits and recorded nine strikeouts against six walks.
“It feels like the losing streak has gone on forever, but I’m glad that our players can feel good about the win today,” head coach Yvette Girouard said. “I want to give kudos to the makeshift lineup. I thought Anissa Young did well at third base, Tammy Wray did a good job at shortstop, and Heidi Pizer as well at first base. We’re just trying to find some answers, and we’re willing to try anything.”
Prior to the game, LSU honored 23 former Alumnae in attendance. Stephanie Hastings, Jennie Reeves, Jennifer Schuelke, Britni Sneed-Newman and Julie Wiese-Hawkins represented the 2001 Women’s College World Series squad and threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
“Those were phenomenal players,” Girouard said. “They certainly will be in my book of memories. What a fun and unbelievable team to coach.”
With the score tied at 1-1 in the fifth inning, Tiffany Shaw slapped a leadoff infield single. Three batters later, Ashley Langoni and Anissa Young coaxed consecutive walks to fill the bases. Wray was plunked by the 1-1 offering to plate the go-ahead run.
Mack buckled down and retired nine of the final 11 batters she faced sparked by a 1-2-3 seventh inning to secure the 2-1 triumph.
“It was a well needed victory today,” Langoni said. “We came out, and we were finally playing the Tiger Way, as Coach Girouard puts it. Winning this game whether it was 8-0 or 2-1, we came out and showed that we can come back from the losses we have had.”
LSU took advantage of a two-out walk to Juliana Santos in the third inning. Langoni ripped a RBI double over the head of UK centerfielder Meagan Aull to hand LSU a 1-0 edge.
The Wildcats (19-5, 5-2 SEC) strung together a Lauren Cumbess single along with a trio of walks, the latest to Alice O’Brien, to knot the score at 1-1 during the fourth inning. Mack regrouped and mowed down pinch hitter Ellen Weaver to end the threat.
“It was really good effort by Brittany Mack,” Girouard said. “When she’s on, she’s very deceiving and very hard to hit. The key for her is to throw early strikes to stay ahead. “
Sunday’s rubber game between LSU and Kentucky is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch. The contest will be carried live on ESPN 104.5 FM in the Baton Rouge area with Patrick Wright and Kent Lowe on the call.
Live video, live audio and live stats also are available in the Geaux Zone on LSUsports.net along with in-game updates via the program’s social media pages at www.Facebook.com/lsusoftball and www.Twitter.com/LSU_Softball.
The Tiger Park Ticket Booth opens at 11:30 a.m. and fans can purchase tickets on-site starting at $5 for adult general admission. Triple play packages featuring a trio of SEC games are available for $12 at www.LSUtix.net.
Softball Postgame Quotes
No. 25 LSU vs. No. 24 Kentucky
March 19, 2011
Head Coach Yvette Girouard
On ending the losing streak…
“It feels like the losing streak has gone on forever, but I’m glad that our players can feel good about the win today. It was really good effort by Brittany Mack. When she’s on, she’s very deceiving and very hard to hit. The key for her is to throw early strikes to stay ahead. “
On Ashley Langoni and the makeshift lineup…
“Ashley Langoni looks like she is starting to hit her stride again, which is very good for us. You need to get on-base anyway you can. I want to give kudos to the makeshift lineup. I thought Anissa Young did well at third base, Tammy Wray did a good job at shortstop, and Heidi Pizer as well at first base. We’re just trying to find some answers, and we’re willing to try anything.”
On the 2001 World Series Team throwing out the first pitch…
“Those were phenomenal players. They certainly will be in my book of memories. What a fun and unbelievable team to coach. It was a rough honeymoon at first, but in the end we all ended up liking each other.”
On how to finish this series…
“There’s no question that we have to scratch out everything we can in the SEC right now. We’re at home and need to take advantage of that. We need to come out and have another good pitching outing tomorrow. “
Left Fielder Ashley Langoni
On ending the losing streak…
“It was a well needed victory today. We came out, and we were finally playing the Tiger Way, as Coach Girouard puts it. Winning this game whether it was 8-0 or 2-1, we came out and showed that we can come back from the losses we have had.”
On having the Alumnae here this weekend…
“It was very special for having the alumnae out here. If it weren’t for them, we would not have the field we have today. They have been our backbone and winning for them meant a lot to both us and them.”
On her hitting…
“Coach Girouard got on me a little bit this past week about hitting. She gave me the fire that I needed. I feel a lot more confident and collected. I think it’s paying off.”
On how to win tomorrow’s game…
“We came out today and put yesterday’s loss behind us. We were pumped up and ready to play. We weren’t down or anything. That’s how we need to do it. Tomorrow we need to be more selective at the plate and not leave any players on-base. That’s how we’ll win the ball game.”