The LSU softball team (25-8, 8-1 Southeastern Conference) took the first game of its three-game series with Arkansas (18-14, 2-9 SEC) in dramatic fashion Friday night.
After six-and-a-half scoreless innings, the Tigers put sophomore outfielder Simone Heyward in to pinch hit to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning Heyward reached base on a walk and moved on to second base off of a single from freshman outfielder AJ Andrews.
Sophomore utility player Jacee Blades was next up to bat and singled to third. A throwing error on Blades’ hit allowed Heyward to round third and score the winning run for the Tigers.
The Tigers were aided by a three-hit, 11-strikeout performance from junior pitcher Rachele Fico.
With a strikeout to end the top of the sixth inning, Fico moved into the No. 7 spot on the LSU softball all-time strikeout list.
The Tigers play game two of their series against the Razorbacks on Saturday at 4 p.m.