Constance Quinn knew that the game got away from the Tigers when they started to lose their energy.
“You could tell the difference,” the senior second baseman said. “We had the crowd in it, we had everyone in it from the get go. Then right when things didn’t go our way and we got punched in the mouth, we didn’t have a response to it.”
LSU fell to Tennessee 6-3 in the series opener, and the Tigers first home loss since March 4 against Minnesota.
The Volunteers took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but with runners on second and third, junior pitcher Carley Hoover minimized the damage by striking out the last batter to get the Tigers out of the inning.
“I don’t think [Hoover] is the type to throw all strikes at any point,” coach Beth Torina said. “We’ve seen similar performances from her all year. When you give an offense like that opportunities you’re going to find yourself in a bad spot.”
The Tigers came back in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead.
Senior catcher Sahvanna Jaquish and freshman first baseman Amanda Doyle both drew walks to load the bases.
Sophomore third baseman Shemiah Sanchez then popped up to second base and a fielding error by Tennessee’s second baseman secured a spot on first base for Sanchez scoring Jaquish and junior outfielder Emily Griggs.
Tennessee’s Scarlet McSwain answered with a solo home run in the top of the second to knot the game at 2-2.
Hoover worked around the home run though, striking out the last batter to get out of the inning.
The Tigers regained the lead in the bottom of the third after Quinn drilled a double into left center field scoring senior outfielder Bailey Landry from first base.
The Volunteers came out again in the top of the fourth tying the game 3-3 after a throwing error by Sanchez.
“There were several opportunities we gave them that shouldn’t have,” Torina said. “We have to play better defense and stop things when we get the opportunity.”
The Volunteers then took a 4-3 lead on an unearned run by Tennessee’s CJ McClain.
Hoover settled in to retire the side in both the fifth and the sixth before she was relieved in the seventh by junior pitcher Allie Walljasper.
The Volunteers secured their lead with no outs by adding two runs and getting ahead 6-3 in the top of the seventh.
“[Tennessee] hasn’t won 19 games in a row by not being talented,” Torina said. “There’s not a real weakness in their entire game. You just have to beat them.”
The Tigers will face the Volunteers in the second game of the series Saturday in Tiger Park at 3 p.m.
