The LSU seniors came through for the No. 23 Tigers softball team (34-18, 15-10 Southeastern Conference) on Senior Day on Sunday against No. 12 Georgia (33-19, 14-11 SEC), as LSU pulled off a 1-0 win.
LSU’s lone run came after sophomore third baseman Tammy Wray singled to open the bottom of the fifth inning. Sophomore outfielder Alex Boulet came on to pinch run for Wray and made it to third base after two outs.
LSU senior designated player Brittany Mack stepped up to the plate and ripped an RBI double to center field for her first career hit.
“You really couldn’t have scripted a better ending to their Senior Day,” Mack said.
The RBI double was enough for the win, as LSU junior pitcher Rachele Fico pitched a complete-game win, accumulating six strikeouts on four hits.
“As soon as she did that, I knew I really had to go to work and get this win for her,” Fico said.
On Saturday, the Tigers fell behind early as Georgia put up three runs in the top of the first inning. The Bulldogs never looked back on their way to a 6-1 victory.
Georgia junior pitcher Tess Sito excelled on both sides of the ball, earning a win on 5 1/3 innings pitched. Sito tossed three strikeouts and gave up two hits while going two-for-four batting and scoring one run.
LSU senior left fielder Ashley Langoni provided the lone score of the game for the Tigers, with a two-out RBI single in the third inning that brought freshman first baseman Dylan Supak home.
Georgia freshman third baseman Gracie Goulder knocked in her second RBI of the day in the fifth inning, which put the Bulldogs up by their final margin of 6-1.
Mack, LSU’s pitcher for the night, was tabbed with the loss, dropping her to 14-9 on the season.
Friday night’s game was a 15-inning pitcher’s duel that ended in a 1-0 Georgia victory.
LSU didn’t get a hit until the 11th inning, but the Tigers’ best chance to score came in the ninth inning.
LSU freshman outfielder A.J. Andrews and senior first baseman Heidi Pizer opened the inning with back-to-back walks.
Boulet entered the game to pinch run for Pizer and immediately pulled off a double steal with Andrews to advance the runners to second and third bases with no outs.
After a pop-out in infield foul territory, Langoni stepped up to the plate and popped up a squeeze bunt attempt, but Georgia senior catcher Kristyn Sandberg made a diving grab.
Boulet sprinted home on the throw back to Georgia senior pitcher Erin Arevalo and was greeted by celebration, as the Tigers thought they had pulled off the no-hit win.
But Boulet was called out for leaving base, as Arevalo had already returned to the pitcher’s circle.
The Bulldogs’ lone run came on an error as Georgia freshman left fielder Niaja Griffin knocked the ball out of LSU sophomore first baseman Ashleigh Kuhn’s glove, allowing Sandberg to score from second base.
Fico threw 255 pitches on the night, giving up eight hits and no earned runs.
“Both pitchers were phenomenal tonight,” Torina said. “Absolutely one of the best pitching performances I’ve seen in my entire