The No. 4 LSU softball team dropped its second game of the season, 3-0, to No. 9 Arizona in Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic opener in Palm Springs, California on Friday night. 
The Wildcats’ (6-0) junior pitcher Danielle O’toole kept the LSU (4-2) lineup in check, allowing only three hits and notching eight strikeouts in seven innings of work.
The Tigers were locked in a pitchers duel until the fifth inning, when Arizona’s offense sparked to score all three of its runs. Defense continued to be a problem for LSU.
After Arizona freshman catcher Hilary Edior led off the frame with a single, an error by senior first baseman Sandra Simmons put two Wildcat runners on with no outs.
Arizona took advantage of the opportunity when freshman utility player Tamara Statman advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, setting up junior outfielder Mandie Perez’s RBI single on the next at-bat.
The Wildcats’ junior outfielder Eva Watson drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. Perez advanced to third on the throw, then used her speed to tag third and extend Arizona’s lead to 3-0.
Sophomore pitcher Allie Walljasper (0-2) got the start in the circle, but LSU coach Beth Torina pulled her in favor of sophomore Carley Hoover (2-0) in the fifth inning. Walljasper allowed five hits and one earned run in four and 1/3 innings of work.
Although LSU tried to mount a two-out rally in the sixth inning after senior shortstop Bianka Bell stepped to the plate with two runners on, but she grounded out to end the inning.
The Tigers will finish tonight’s doubleheader at 10 p.m. against Bethune-Cookman.