Missed opportunities and inconsistent defense plagued the Tigers as the reigning National Champion Sooners swept LSU in its first non-conference series of 2014.
The Tigers dropped their third straight series of the season, after losing two Southeastern Conference series to Auburn and No. 1 Florida, respectively.
LSU struggled to translate hits into runs, epitomized by the Tigers’ leaving 18 runners on base. Failing to get hits with runners in scoring positions is something the Tigers haven’t been able to do all season.
“It’s definitely a recurring theme with our team,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “We just need to be a little gutsier, a little more clutch and find a way. We are in every ballgame —we just need to find a way to get the final hit and make the final blow.”
Despite out-hitting the Sooners 8-4, LSU (19-12, 2-4 SEC) dropped game one, 1-2, to No. 22 Oklahoma (21-8).
Freshman catcher Sahvanna Jaquish put the Tigers on the board first with her ninth home run of the season in the top of the fourth.
Freshman pitcher Baylee Corbello continued her excellent season, holding Oklahoma hitters until junior infielder Shelby Pendley hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Corbello struggled after allowing the home run, eventually giving up two runs, leading to the Tigers’ loss.
Oklahoma added another run in the seventh after Corbello, allowed two walks and consecutive singles.
Sunday matchups have proved especially difficult for the Tigers, whose opposing pitchers have the greatest opportunity to adjust and change game plans depending on experience in the series.
The Tigers are 0-3 in series concluding games this season, and they have been outscored 4-20 in these games.
In game two, a rally started by freshman designated hitter Constance Quinn, who hit her first career home run in her collegiate start, that scored two runs for the Tigers in the fourth fell short when defensive errors led to runs.
“[Quinn] had a great day for us,” Torina said. “She’s definitely a spark for us off of the bench, but she’s the emotional heart and soul of the team. So when she can step into the lineup and do that, she can really fuel us and help us in the long run.”
In the third inning, two throwing errors led to two Oklahoma runs.
A throwing error by Jaquish hit an Oklahoma base runner’s helmet as she attempted to steal third, scoring a run for the Sooners.
One throwing error by senior pitcher Ashley Czechner scored the third run of the game after a double scored a second run for Oklahoma.
Czechner earned the loss in her first start since the Tigers’ victory against Florida on March 15. She recorded four strikeouts, three walks and allowed six hits in six innings pitched Sunday.
“You need pitching, hitting and defense on any given day to win and I don’t think we had two of the three,” Torina said. “I don’t think we’ve played good defense as of late, and I think that’s something that we need to go back and make sure that we fix. That is an area where I think we are capable of doing better and one of our strengths. We have to go back and make sure we’re performing there.”