The LSU softball team wasn’t fazed by a midweek out-of-conference game before its first Southeastern Conference road trip of the season.
The Tigers (20-8) pulled out a 2-1 win against Georgia Tech (19-14) in a game played through an off-and-on drizzle.
The Yellow Jackets struck first after putting a runner on third base for three consecutive innings.
Georgia Tech freshman second baseman Chelsie Thomas crossed home plate in the fourth inning as LSU freshman shortstop Dylan Supak overthrew senior first baseman Heidi Pizer.
The Tigers responded in the bottom of the same inning as an attempted pick-off throw to first base allowed sophomore outfielder Alex Boulet to steal home for the score.
“I saw her get turned around,” she said. “So I just took off.”
Sophomore third baseman Tammy Wray stepped up to the plate next and drove freshman second baseman Rikki Alcaraz home with an RBI single.
“Even after an inning where they scored we were able to come back the exact same and get two runs,” said senior pitcher Brittany Mack. “It was great that when they got the momentum, we took it right back from them.”
LSU had another chance to score in the fifth inning when junior catcher Lauren Houston stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded.
Houston struck out looking to strand the three runners, but two runs proved enough for the Tigers.
Mack gave up five hits and no earned runs while throwing nine strikeouts to improve to 9-4 on the season.
“Bottom line is, Brittany Mack was phenomenal tonight,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “I thought she was really tough to hit for the entire game. It was one of her best performances of the year.”
The Tigers have won 10 of their last 11 games.
“When we’re clicking on all cylinders and we’re all healthy, this team is going to be a very, very tough team to beat,” Torina said.
 
—- Contact Albert Burford at [email protected]