The LSU softball team ended its streak of 41 straight series wins against conference opponents, losing 2-of-3 to No. 11 Georgia (31-5, 10-2 Southeastern Conference) at the Georgia Softball Complex in Athens, Ga.
No. 8 LSU (23-9, 4-4 SEC) tried to rally in the seventh inning of Sunday’s game but fell short in a 3-0 loss. The Tigers rallied for a 5-4 win Saturday but lost 1-0 to end a streak that began in 1998.
The Tigers got back-to-back hits from Alicia Owen and Leigh Ann Danos in the final inning, but shortstop Blair Smith struck out to end the game.
UGA’s Michele Green (22-2) won for the second time, striking out six Tiger batters and scattering five hits.
Kristin Schmidt (12-8) lost two games in the series, allowing two earned runs on 10 hits. Schmidt tossed a complete game in the Saturday loss.
“Georgia has a good ballclub, and they were the better team this weekend,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We have been waking up a little late in the game. You have to grab opportunities when they are there. We didn’t, and they did, and consequently they won, and we lost.””
LSU scored five runs in the seventh inning to take the second game 5-4. The Tigers had been shut out for 13 innings before the scoring barrage, which prevented the team from losing its first SEC series since 1998.
“I wasn’t real happy with how we played for 13 innings,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard after the second game. “You have to be happy with the way your team fought back in that last inning. I’ll always take a win and we showed some guts, but I was wondering where it was for 13 innings.”
Danos went 1-for-2 for the Tigers, knocking in two runs to lead the Tigers at the plate.
Tessa Lynam (11-1) threw six innings to earn the second game win, and Schmidt came in to close out the game. Schmidt struck out two of the final three batters to notch her second save.
LSU will conclude its three-series road swing at Mississippi State this week. The Tigers will take on the Bulldogs in Starkville, Miss., beginning with a doubleheader Wednesday at 5 p.m. and concluding Thursday with a single game at 4 p.m.