The LSU softball team lost its season opener, 5-3 to Penn State, despite a career high 13 strikeouts for senior pitcher Brittany Mack in seven innings.
Mack struck out the side in the first and again in the fourth, but ran into trouble in the fifth inning.
On a full count with the bases loaded, Mack hit the batter to force home the tying run. The next batter walked, putting the Nittany Lions on top, 2-1.
The next Penn State hitter doubled to the fence in right-center to clear the bases, extending its lead to 5-1.
LSU sophomore third baseman Tammy Wray scored the game’s first run when senior shortstop Juliana Santos drew a bases-loaded walk. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Santos, who took four straight pitches to push across LSU’s’ first run of the season.
The Tigers’ first hit didn’t come until the top of the third when senior right fielder Ashley Applegate stroked a single to left-center.
In the bottom of the fifth, senior left fielder Ashley Langoni homered over the left field fence to cut the Nittany Lions’ lead to three.
The Tigers added another run in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore first baseman Ashleigh Kuhn singled to right field, scoring sophomore center fielder Simone Heyward from second.
LSU returns to action Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. game against No. 15 Michigan (1-0), followed by a 3:00 p.m. contest against Louisiana Tech (0-1).
In Friday’s afternoon matchup, Michigan bested Louisiana Tech 7-6. The Wolverines led 7-2 going into the bottom of the 7th before Louisiana Tech stormed back. Four two-out runs cut the lead to one before Michigan recorded the final out.