COLUMBIA, S.C. — The LSU softball team (24-6, 6-2 SEC) split a doubleheader with South Carolina (21-11-1, 5-3 SEC) on Saturday in Columbia winning game one, 2-1, and falling in game two, 3-2.
“I thought in the first game that we came out focused, and we came out disciplined and took it to Megan Matthews,” said head coach Yvette Girouard. “We need to learn to carry that intensity over to the second game now. We are a team that has learned this the hard way. We are gearing up for one player and one game and we have to gear up for a series.
“Stephanie had an awesome day at the plate and Britni was in complete control. We let the second game get away from us. There were a couple of errors that broke the game open. We have to come back tomorrow with game one’s intensity.”
The Tigers and the Lady Gamecocks will play game three of the series on Sunday at noon in Columbia at Beckham Field. The LSU Sports Network will broadcast the game on 107.3 FM and www.LSUsports.net.
In game one, LSU allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the first when Megann Donohoo was attempting a sacrifice bunt. Catcher Jennifer Schuelke attempted to throw out the lead runner at second, and a bad throw that went into center field allowed Joyce McMillin to score from first.
The Tigers answered back in the top of the third with two runs on three hits. Schuelke got the action started when she doubled to left field. Second baseman April Janzen followed with a single to put pinch runner Jennie Reeves on third. Shortstop Stephanie Hastings picked up two RBI with a single up the middle to score Reeves and Janzen to put LSU up 2-1.
The two runs were all LSU would need to hold on for the win behind the pitching of Britni Sneed. Sneed allowed just two hits and struckout eight in the contest. She has not allowed an earned run in 21 innings of work.
The Tiger bats had eight hits off Lady Gamecock pitcher Megann Matthews. Dee Douglas, Hastings and Janzen each had two hits for the game.
LSU struck first in game two in the top of the third when Hastings singled through the right side to send home Reeves who reached first on a fielding error by second baseman Debralee Troesh.
South Carolina answered back in their half of the fourth when Donohoo singled in Jodi Fittro who reached base on a single. Troesh followed Donohoo with a single to score Donohoo for the Lady Gamecock 2-1 lead.
The Lady Gamecocks picked up a third run on a Tiger error in the bottom of the fourth. Pinch runner Nancy Crane scored from first when Trena Peel fielded a single by Fittro and attempted to throw Crane out and over threw third base.
The Tigers narrowed the South Carolina lead to one with a run in the top of the sixth. Peel singled to left field and advanced to second on the throw. Third baseman Julie Wiese singled up the middle to send Peel home from third base.
The Tigers’ lead off batter in the seventh, Jennifer Schuelke, reached base on an error. However, pinch runner Aleshia Perry was caught off the base when Douglas’ bunt was caught in the air.
LSU pitcher Ashley Lewis allowed four hits and one earned run in the loss. She moves to 8-2 for the season. Freshman Sarah Meadors went three innings in relief only allowing three hits.
The Tiger bats had seven hits to match the Lady Gamecock’s seven but could not get the job done, leaving six on base. Hastings was five for seven at the plate with three RBI.
Following the series with South Carolina, LSU travels to Myrtle Beach for a midweek double header with Coastal Carolina on Wednesday at 2 p.m. The Tigers then return to SEC play with a three game series at Georgia on March 31 and April 1. LSU returns home on Tuesday, April 3 for a series with Arkansas with Alabama coming to Baton Rouge the following weekend.