The storyline heading into LSU softball’s game against McNeese State was freshman pitcher Baylee Corbello, the Lake Charles native who found herself going against her hometown team.
What she discovered was a team with its own stellar pitching and some clutch hitting to go with it.
The Tigers couldn’t find balance in their hitting, and the Cowgirls (28-10, 11-3 Southland) got an RBI single in the seventh inning to eke out a 2-1 win in a pitcher’s duel against LSU (22-17, 4-8 Southeastern Conference).
“I think we made a lot of stupid mistakes tonight,” said coach Beth Torina. “Give them credit because they’re a very quality program. But I think that we did not at any point. I think we made a lot of mistakes that were very costly.”
Corbello started the game well, allowing only one hit and three runners on base through the first four innings. But she never got the support she needed in the bottom of the inning, as LSU’s bats failed to come away with a big hit to break the game open.
Sophomore catcher Kellsi Kloss led off the second with a stand-up double, but two consecutive outs halted the Tigers’ progress. The inning would end when junior center fielder A.J. Andrews struck out with the bases loaded.
LSU showed more promise in the third, when two hits and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. A catcher’s interference two batters later gave the Tigers their only run of the game and kept the bases juiced.
But senior second baseman Allison Falcon flied out and McNeese caught base runner Bianka Bell off second and tagged her up to abruptly end the inning.
Corbello showed her first sign of weakness in the fifth, as the freshman struggled with control issues she’s dealt with all season. Two hit batters and a single loaded the bases, and Corbello brought in the run with a walk on a 3-2 pitch and two outs.
McNeese resorted to small-ball in the seventh, getting an infield hit and a sacrifice bunt to put a runner on second. McNeese freshman designated player Marisa Taunton would bring the runner home on a single, and the Cowgirls had their first lead of the game.
The Tigers will look to rebound when they begin a three-game series against Georgia Friday at Tiger Park.
Torina said the practice to improve has been done, it is just a matter of patience now.
“I feel like we’re continuing to work on the things in practice that I feel are important and will prepare us for the weekend,” Torina said. “I think at this point we just have to stay the course and keep finding ways to stay prepared.”