No. 23 Alabama softball continued the gauntlet of SEC play this weekend in Baton Rouge, challenging the No. 7 LSU Tigers. While the Crimson Tide looked to build off its momentum from winning its first series of conference play against Georgia, things overall did not go the team’s way, as it lost two of three games.
Game 1: LSU 8, Alabama 0 (F/5)
Pitcher Emily Winstead started the series opener for Alabama on the mound; however, it was not what she had hoped for. Winstead’s outing lasted just 0.2 innings as she surrendered 3 runs on four hits.
LSU jumped on the Crimson Tide right off the bat. The Tigers scored 3 RBI singles from center fielder Jalia Lassiter, right fielder McKenzie Redoutey and designated hitter Savanna Bedell.
After Winstead gave up 3 runs, pitcher Braya Hodges came in for relief from Winstead but could not figure out the LSU bats.
The Tigers returned with 3 more runs in the bottom of the third inning. With runners on first and second, second baseman Maddox McKee got an RBI single, but an Alabama fielding error caused both the runner from first and McKee to score on the same play.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lassiter made Alabama pay again with a 2-run home run to left field and put the run-ahead rule into effect with an 8-run lead.
Alabama could not get anything going. LSU pitcher Sydney Berzon threw all five innings, and the Crimson Tide could only muster up four hits on her. Designated hitter Alexis Pupillo got two of Alabama’s four hits, as she went 2-for-2 at the plate.
Game 2: LSU 2, Alabama 1
Saturday was a different story. Pitcher Jocelyn Briski started on the mound for the Crimson Tide.
LSU got on the board early in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded and no outs, first baseman Tori Edwards drew in the game’s first run with an RBI sacrifice groundout.
Briski did settle in despite the early run, starting a pitching duel between the two teams. After Briski pitched 2.1 innings and gave up only two hits, pitcher Catelyn Riley backed her up in relief.
Riley pitched the rest of the way, throwing for 3.2 innings and only allowing 1 run from an RBI bunt single from Lassiter that scored a runner from third base.
“Catelyn Riley gave us some good innings this weekend, she’s picked it up tremendously over the last couple weeks,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said.
The Alabama offense again ran into a problem with LSU’s pitching. Tiger pitcher Jayden Heavener threw six innings and allowed only three hits from Alabama, including 1 run after she loaded the bases and hit Crimson Tide first baseman Abby Duchscherer to bring in center fielder Audrey Vandagriff from third.
Despite being down, Alabama did not quit. LSU sent Berzon out on the mound at the top of the seventh inning. The Crimson Tide put pressure on Berzon quickly, loading the bases with just one out. But in the end, Berzon got the best of the Alabama bats again. The Crimson Tide struck out and grounded out with the bases loaded to end the game.
Alabama left 10 on base in the game, including going 0-for-6 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
Game 3: Alabama 8, LSU 5
Riley started the series finale on the mound. She pitched the game’s first four innings and allowed just two hits and 1 run off a sacrifice fly out from catcher Maci Bergeron.
For Alabama, the offense finally came alive. With the team trailing 1-0 in the top of the second inning, left fielder Lauren Johnson singled up the middle to score shortstop Salen Hawkins and tie the game.
Johnson’s production at the plate was just getting started. In the top of the fourth, the Crimson Tide scored 3 runs, led by a 2-RBI double to left field from Johnson. In the next inning, Johnson tacked on 1 more run when she singled up the middle once again and scored pinch hitter Kendal Clark to put her team up 5-1.
LSU kept itself in striking distance. With Briski and later Alea Johnson in relief in the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers scored 2 runs on back-to-back singles and cut the deficit to 2.
In the top of the seventh, Vandagriff took out any hope of an LSU comeback with a 3-run home run that scored catcher Marlie Giles and Duchscherer and gave Alabama its largest lead of 5.
Riley returned to the game in the bottom of the seventh. Although she allowed a 2-run home run to Edwards, Riley found a way to shut the door and help Alabama avoid a sweep.
“That was one of the grittiest wins we’ve ever had here. Our backs were against the wall and nobody gave up. The at-bats got better as the weekend went along,” Murphy said.
Next, Alabama’s gauntlet continues as the Crimson Tide returns home to take on No. 3 Oklahoma for a three-game series. The first game starts Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.
