Yes. No. 22 LSU softball won its first conference series of the season on Sunday, defeating No. 21 South Carolina 2-1 after a one-run comeback in the final two innings.
This is LSU’s second consecutive conference victory and third overall this season, making this two-win stretch a good comeback following the team’s first two defeats.
Despite a poor start at the plate for LSU, the Tigers rallied with a two-run sixth inning to get back into contention. LSU had just two hits, both of which occurred in the final two innings.
LSU’s Jayden Heavner and South Carolina’s Jori Heard both pitched outstanding games for their respective clubs.
Heavner concluded her day by allowing just two hits while striking out five. Despite a defeat, Heard had another excellent day, allowing just one hit while striking out seven batters.
The LSU and South Carolina defenses performed well in the first inning, keeping both teams scoreless with excellent pitching. Heavener and Heard began the day by keeping their opponents scoreless while striking out three times.
The competition became fierce at the top of the second inning when the home plate umpire called a strike on a tight decision, prompting LSU assistant coach Bryce Neal to protest that the pitch was a ball. Neal was expelled for departing his dugout and arguing, which was quickly followed by two more strikeouts by Heard to end the inning.
Pitchers were nearly perfect in the bottom of the second and top of the third innings, with Heavner getting three consecutive outs before Heard pitched a hitless inning. The Gamecocks had the game’s first hit with a single in the bottom of the third, but they were unable to score.
After two 1-2-3 innings in which the Tigers looked hopeless at the plate, South Carolina held LSU hitless through the fourth and fifth innings.
The Gamecocks’ attack took advantage of great defense by scoring first, with designated hitter Jamie Mackay crushing a one-run homer down the infield line.
The game picked up at the start of the sixth, when LSU’s Destiny Harris got the Tigers’ first hit with a bunt. Another sacrifice bunt by Avery Hodge moved Harris to second, followed by a sacrifice fly by Jaila Lassiter moved Harris to third, creating a significant scoring chance with two outs.
Sierra Daniel then walked, putting another runner on first as Tori Edwards prepared to attempt to drive a runner home.
Edwards would do exactly that, smacking a pitch deep into right-center field for a two-run double. LSU immediately flipped the game’s dynamics, gaining a 2-1 lead with the smash.
Heavner and team were clutch once again, forcing another quick three outs at the bottom of the sixth.
LSU attempted to extend its lead with one inning remaining, and came close to scoring a third run at the start of the seventh after putting a runner on third base. However, the Gamecocks’ relief pitcher Nealy Lamb forced a fly-out, preventing them from making another run.
LSU needed only three outs to claim its first conference series victory of the season, and Heavner continued to appear unfazed by the pressure. She had a flyout and a lineout on her first two pitches before finishing the game with her fifth strikeout of the day.
The Tigers showed amazing tenacity this season to overcome an early deficit, a scenario that has plagued them frequently. LSU will like to carry this victory into next week when it returns to Tiger Park to face Louisiana Tech on Tuesday.
