ATHENS, Ga. – With the series already in hand, the No. 8 LSU softball team was going for the sweep on Sunday, but in the end the Tigers were unable to capitalize with runners on base in dropping a 3-1 decision to the No. 10 Georgia Bulldogs at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens.
After pulling within a run of the home side midway through, LSU (28-9, 5-7 Southeastern) was looking for a bit of the magic they found in the comeback win on Friday, but in the end couldn’t get the timely hit and wound up stranding eight on base.
“We’re happy to walk out of here with a series win. We had opportunities to win the game today, but couldn’t perform like we needed to,” head coach Beth Torina said. “Overall I think we played well, and it was a big moment for our team to come in here and take a series against a really good program.”
Georgia (31-7, 5-4) had just as much trouble during the game, stranding 11 on base against LSU, but after plating two runs in the second, got a late run in the sixth to ease some of the pressure and hold on for the win. The UGA defense also struggled and had a hand in keeping LSU in it, committing three errors in the game.
Sandra Simmons and Elyse Thornhill had both of LSU’s hits in the game.
Sydney Smith (7-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on five hits with a walk in 1.2 innings of work. Carley Hoover came on in relief and pitched the remaining four innings, striking out six and walking two with a run allowed on four hits.
Chelsea Wilkinson (17-2) earned the win for Georgia, allowing an unearned run with eight strikeouts and four walks. Brittany Gray (5) earned the save by retiring all three batters she faced in her one inning of work, earning a strikeout.
After a missed opportunity to strike with runners at second and third in the top half of the second, LSU took to the bottom half of the inning and got the first two outs of the frame, but from there Georgia proceeded to string together positive play with two straight hits, leading to a 2-RBI triple to put Georgia up 2-0.
A bunt single put runners at the corners and ended Smith’s day, as Hoover came on in relief. After the runner from first stole second to put two in scoring position, a sky-high fly ball went into foul territory in left, as Thornhill made a catch over a railing to end the Bulldog threat.
In the top of the fourth with one out, Kellsi Kloss drew a walk to take first. She would move to second on a passed ball, as Taylor Lockwood would come on to pinch run. Constance Quinn drew a walk, as Thornhill hit a low grounder to first that wasn’t fielded cleanly, allowing Lockwood to score to make it 2-1.
Although the team had runners at second and third with just an out, the next two batters would go down in order to end the inning.
With an out in the top of the fifth, Simmons laced a single to right to reach first. On the very next play, Bianka Bell chopped one high off the dirt that could have been played, but resulted in Georgia’s third error of the day to put runners at the corners for LSU. Unfortunately, the Tigers would strand both as a pop up in foul territory and a strikeout ended the inning.
Georgia was able to get a bit of insurance in the bottom of the sixth, as a leadoff walk put one on, with a single putting two on. An infield single allowed a run to score to put Georgia up 3-1. Back-to-back strikeouts for Hoover shut the door.
Wilkinson was relieved for Gray in the top of the seventh, got two balls hit to short and a strikeout to close as Georgia held on for the win. 3-1.
LSU will be back in action this Wednesday, hosting the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at 6 p.m. at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge.
For all of the latest news and information on Tiger softball, visit www.lsusports.net/softball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/lsusoftball along with @lsusoftball and @BethTorina on Twitter and @lsusb on Instagram.