For three straight days, fans packed Tiger park to watch LSU softball’s last conference series.
They kept coming back, hoping to see a Tiger win over Arkansas, which finally happened on the third day. This large turnout was key in helping LSU overcome the prior losses.
“One of the goals is to put pressure on the other team, and I think our crowd helps us do that,” head coach Beth Torina said.
PHOTOS: LSU softball falls 2-1 against Arkansas in first game of the series
Down 0-2 in the series, the Tigers pulled out a 1-0 victory on Sunday. After four scoreless innings, center fielder Ciara Briggs hit a single to bring home the game’s only run.
“We talked this week about how sometimes you have to be creative to find a way home, and she was able to do that,” Torina said.
In the first game of the series, LSU lost 2-1 after Arkansas hit a seventh-inning RBI single.
The next day, LSU and Arkansas were tied 1-1 when pitcher Kelley Lynch gave up three runs in one inning. The Tigers lost 4-1.
For the first time in program history, the Razorbacks won back-to-back series against LSU. The Tigers are now 12-12 in the SEC.
Here are key moments from the 2-1 series loss against Arkansas.
Game 1, third and fourth inning: Two unearned runs tie game at 1-1
With two outs and a runner on first and third, left fielder Ali Newland hit a grounder to second baseman Cylie Halvorson.
Halverson scooped the ball and tossed it to the shortstop. However, she dropped the ball and everyone was safe. Madilyn Giglio scored on the error to put the Tigers up 1-0.
The Razorbacks responded in the next inning.
Arkansas’ shortstop hit a grounder to second baseman Karli Petty and the ball bounced out of her glove and rolled to the outfield. The runner on second left with enough time to score.
Game 1, seventh inning: Arkansas singles to win
The game had been tied at 1-1 for three innings, and the two pitchers were dueling. It was looking like neither team would score the go-ahead.
However, with one out and a runner on third in the seventh inning, Arkansas third baseman Hannah Gammill hit a single to center field and brought the runner home.
LSU’s offense could not respond in the bottom of the seventh.
Game 2, top of the second: Razorbacks hit back-to-back doubles
Arkansas took a 1-0 lead early in the second game. Gammil hit a double to right center, and then the next at-bat, Razorbacks’ catcher Kennedy Miller doubled to bring her home.
LSU tied the game in the bottom of the second when Arkansas’ pitcher threw a wild pitch, and first baseman Raeleen Gutierrez scored. Gutierrez recorded a career-high four hits this game and went 4-4.
Game 2, third inning: Arkansas scores three runs
To cap off the scoring in Game 2, the Razorbacks recorded three runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead.
The bases were loaded when Lynch walked Halverson, and it didn’t stop there. Lynch then walked Gammil, and the next play Miller singled to center field to increase Arkansas’ lead by three runs.
Lynch was taken out, and Raelin Chaffin finished the game.
Game 3, fifth inning: Ciara Briggs gets an RBI
In the final game of the series, Arkansas and LSU found themselves in another pitchers’ duel.
After many scoreless innings, one run was likely going to win the game, and Briggs produced it for the Tigers.
She hit a single down the left field line and advanced to second on the throw. Pinch runner Maia Townsend scored.
Game 3: Sydney Berzon pitches a shutout
After throwing over 110 pitches in the first game against Arkansas, Sydney Berzon started again on Sunday.
She threw a shutout in the third game and earned her sixteenth win of the season. Berzon carried the Tigers to the only victory in this series.
“We were just powered by Sydney Berzon throwing an incredible game today… She did exactly what we needed her to do,” Torina said.
The Tigers will play Liberty in the last regular season series on May 3-5, and then head into the SEC tournament, starting on May 7.
