Errors plagued the No. 11 LSU softball team for the second consecutive night as the Tigers split a doubleheader with Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.
LSU (45-9, 18-6 SEC) came from behind to win 4-3, but dropped the second game 3-2 after three Tiger errors in the bottom of the ninth inning allowed Arkansas to score the winning run.
“All the credit goes to Arkansas,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard in a news release. “We have just been in a funk for two days, and didn’t play anywhere near our potential. Arkansas did what they needed to do. We got what we earned, and that was one game.”
After losing the series opener 3-2 Tuesday, LSU has lost its first series since the Tigers fell twice to Georgia on March 18.
Junior pitcher Emily Turner started the ninth inning by walking Mindy O’Malley. Then the defense that the Tigers have relied on all year let them down.
Turner (20-5) committed two consecutive fielding errors, loading the bases for the Lady’Backs.
Shana Easley hit a grounder to third baseman Lauren Delahoussaye, but Delahoussaye committed the third error of the inning and O’Malley crossed the plate to end the game.
LSU took an early 2-0 lead when junior Leslie Klein hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
Kayla Johnson answered Klein’s home run with a two-run shot of her own to tie the game 2-2 in the fifth inning.
The game remained tied until the ninth inning.
Turner (20-5) earned the loss after she allowed two earned runs and one unearned, a season-high 10 hits and five walks.
Katy Henry (15-13) received her second win of the series, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts.
During the first game, the Tigers were able to overcome their mistakes.
After allowing two unearned runs in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Arkansas, LSU allowed two more unearned runs in the first inning of Wednesday’s double header.
A fielding error by pitcher Dani Hofer put runners on first and second base.
Blaine Perry took advantage of the Tigers’ mistake by drilling a single down the left field line that scored Rachel LeMaster and Mindy O’Malley to give Arkansas an early 2-0 lead.
Hofer encountered more trouble in the fourth inning.
The Lady’Backs took a 3-0 lead when shortstop Dayna Huckabee hit a Hofer pitch over the center field wall.
The Tigers answered back with four runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead.
After third baseman Lauren Delahoussaye singled, forced catcher Killian Roessner to ground into a double play.
But with two outs, shortstop Andrea Smith singled to left field to prolong the inning.
Following a walk by rightfielder Lauren Castle, leftfielder Camille Harris smacked a double into left field that scored Smith and Castle, pulling LSU within striking distance at 3-2.
Second baseman Vanessa Soto tied the game at 3-3 with a double that scored Harris from second base.
The Tigers led 4-3 after centerfielder Leslie Klein singled to score pinch-runner Shannon Stein.
Arkansas ended the inning when first baseman Stephanie Hill grounded out.
The Lady’Backs put two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but Turner came on in relief to strikeout the last two batters and preserved the win for the Tigers.
Hofer (15-4) earned the win while allowing one earned run and two unearned, seven hits and five strikeouts.
 
Contact Matt Vines at [email protected]