The No. 18 LSU softball team defeated Fairfield by just one run in the second game of the Baton Rouge Regional on Friday.

Hosting their third straight regional tournament, the Tigers took on the Metro Atlantic Athletic conference champion in the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
LSU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning off the bat of sophomore third baseman Shemiah Sanchez. Those would be the only runs scored by the Tigers, but no more were needed for the team to earn the victory.
Fairfield’s ace, Destinee Pallotto, held the Tigers to only three hits in the game and retired as many as seven batters in a row at one point.
“You have to hand it to [Destinee Pallotto] for being able to mix in and out, up and down, and just making the adjustments,” junior centerfielder Emily Griggs said. “If somebody hit a good ball the first inning, the second inning she was doing the complete opposite. Having good pitch location and making sure she switches it up was definitely something that made her successful.”
Sophomore pitcher Sydney Smith worked her way around multiple jams, also holding the Stags to only three hits in the contest before she was relieved by junior pitcher Carley Hoover in the seventh inning.
“Any strength for a team is to have great defense,” Smith said. “We have one of the best defenses. It’s fun to go out there and pitch and know your defense has your back no matter what.”
After being held down by the defense on both sides, Fairfield came within one in the top of the seventh inning for a last minute effort to defeat the Tigers, but the Stags weren’t successful.
Hoover entered the seventh with a runner on first base and earned her first save of the season.
Three different players on the LSU roster picked up a hit including Griggs, freshman first baseman Amanda Doyle and freshman designated player Sydney Springfield.
The Tigers will advance to play UL-Lafayette at noon on Saturday in Tiger Park.
The two teams will be facing each other for the first time since 2013.
“It’s huge to have the first [game] under your belt,” coach Beth Torina said. “I think it’s a tough game. You’re tight. You’re nervous. There are a lot of those factors in it. Once you kind of get going here, once you get rolling, I think it gets a little bit easier. Not that our game tomorrow is easy by any means, but I think getting that first game under your belt is huge.”