The No.17 LSU softball team entered a double header in the Tiger Classic on Friday without a win and finished it with a win against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (14-2) and a loss against Minnesota (0-1).
The Tigers lost to Minnesota 0-1, but the highlight of the game was the pitching matchup between Minnesota’s senior Sara Moulton and freshman Baylee Corbello.
Moulton ranked statically in the top-10 in the NCAA in 2013 with 308 strikeouts and 14 shutouts. She continued this success when she blanked the Tigers, allowing only two hits through seven innings of work.
“[Moulton] had a great year last year,” said LSU head coach Beth Torina. “We were expecting her to be good. She just doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. She keeps the ball on the corners and keeps the ball down.” 
Despite the Tigers’ offensive struggles against Moulton, Corbello shined in her first start for LSU.
Starting the first Corbello looked nervous, as she allowed two singles and walked a batter. Minnesota scored on a wild pitch from Corbello, the only run scored of the game.
“I think she settled in as the game went on,” Torina said. ”That’s her first inning she has pitched here for us at LSU, so I think she is going to do a great job for us all season long though. I think she showed some good things throughout that game.”
After the rough start, Corbello shut down Minnesota’s offense allowing no hits and no runs for the remain six innings.
Corbello became the fourth LSU pitcher since 2006 to record 10 or more strikeouts in her first start.
“That’s great. Knowing that at this level, especially, it is really tough to do,” Corbello said. “But I couldn’t have done it without pitch calling or the catcher behind the plate too. It is not all me.”
The Tigers started the season 0-2 for the first time in two years, which may not be a bad omen considering the last time the Tigers suffered through a similar start, they reached the Women’s College World Series.
In the second game, delays took center stage along with the Lady Tiger offense as LSU beat SUI-E 14-2 in 5 innings.
The game scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., began at 9:57pm and lasted over two hours for a five inning game.
In the bottom of the first, SIU-E’s starting senior pitcher Erin Greenwalt was hit in the face by a line drive single by Sahvanna Jaquish, which drove two runners in for LSU.
Torina said the Tigers were able to refocus on the game by controlling what they were able to control and concentrating on their roles.
Corbello offered a pitcher’s view on the accident.
“That is probably one of my biggest fears [to get hit by the ball],” Corbello said. “She is fortunate enough to be able to walk away from that. It could have been a lot worse.”
The Tigers offense sparked in the second and third to score a combined 12 runs in two innings.
The Tigers’ speed delivered with Andrews, senior outfielder Jacee Blades and senior outfielder Simone Heyward combined to steal six bases in this game alone.
Torina said the speed is the heart of the team they provide the spark to start rallies and to score extra runs.
“They are definitely our spark plug. They definitely set the tone for us. I think we have been missing them our first two games,” Torina said. “I think the reason the score did get up so high is because of how well our speed did and how well they ran the bases.”
Andrews offered her expertise on the art of stealing bases, “Just run fast.”
The Tigers play another doubleheader in the Tiger Classic tonight, where they face Oklahoma State at 5:30 p.m. and Murray State at 7:30pm.