To LSU coach Beth Torina, the perception of her team caused the eighth-ranked LSU softball team game 2 against No. 16 Kentucky, falling 3-0 on Sunday night.
After being plagued with numerous Southeastern Conference losses, LSU coach Beth Torina said the Tigers (29-11, 5-9 SEC) are at fault for the continuation of being defeated against SEC competition.
“We’re so worried about losing and trying to live up to some many things, that we’re forgetting to play,” Torina said.
But, beyond the Tigers’ mistakes, Torina credited Kentucky for another stellar night on the mound.
“They had another a great pitcher that threw a nice game against us,” Torina said. “They get some of the credit, for sure. I don’t know if our mentality is where it needs to be right now.”
The victory by the Wildcats (33-8, 10-4 Southeastern Conference) clinched the series against the Tigers as the LSU offense was held scoreless again today.
Along the same storyline as yesterday for LSU, the Tigers couldn’t find their bats. LSU was 0-for-13 with runners on and left a total of eight batters on the basepath.
The Tigers also didn’t get runner past second base the entire game.
“We’re pressing too much with runners in scoring position,”Torina said. “We’ve got to just compete better.”
Kentucky junior pitcher Megan Prince and LSU sophomore pitcher Allie Walljasper battled each other all game, but the Tigers ended on the wrong end of the pitchers duel.
Prince (15-2) notched five strikeouts and five five hits in her complete game performance, while Walljasper (6-5) threw four strikeouts and allowed six hits on 85 pitches.
The Wildcats snagged an early behind a RBI-single in the top of the third from Kentucky senior outfielder Sylver Samuel. The Wildcats padded their lead in the top of the seventh after senior first baseman Maisie Steed hit a two-out, two-RBI double.
LSU attempted to mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh after sophomore outfielder Emily Griggs hit a one-out single, but back-to-back outs from senior first baseman Sandra Simmons and junior outfielder Bailey Landry ended the game.
With the loss to the Wildcats, it puts the Tigers record at 6-11 when they fail to score first in games.
“Not being able to get those timely hits is something that we usually pride ourselves on,” Griggs said. “Last night and tonight we really didn’t do [that]…just kind of going up there with the attitude of ‘Throw it to me, I want the bat’. Just doing what we need to do to get those runs.”
Despite losing the series to Kentucky, LSU can still salvage the series in the final game at 6 p.m. tomorrow.
“Everyone needs to come together and just fight,” said LSU senior catcher Kellsi Kloss. “Thank god we come out and play them tomorrow, and we can show how much fight we have.”