The bats got hot for LSU and Florida softball to give the Gators the Game 1 win.
The game that started out as a pitchers’ duel ended up being a high-scoring game, with the Gators benefiting. In the outing, both teams put up a combined 18 runs, forcing pitching into the backburner of this game.
Freshman lefty Jayden Heavener started the game in the circle for the Tigers. She ended the first inning with a shocking quickness, striking out Florida’s Kendra Falby to lead off the game, but was chased from the game in the third inning.
The game looked like a pitcher duel from the beginning, but the Gators took off in the third inning and didn’t look back. But what Florida didn’t consider was that this young Tigers team plays the best with their backs against the wall.
Any time a team scores early, LSU has responded in big ways. A few times, this team has been laid down in the face of adversity, and these Tigers have earned their stripes by not making a habit of it.
LSU diamond sports are known to be the Cardiac Kids for a reason.
Once the fire was lit under the LSU team after the rough inning in the field, they responded accordingly. Once the electric offenses for both teams got started, it would be a tough day for pitching.
Tori Edwards belted home run No. 17 on the season to cut the Gator lead in half, effectively shifting the momentum back to the purple and gold. With Edwards being placed on the SEC Freshman of the Year watch list, she showed up big when the time came.
Head coach Beth Torina has said that Edwards puts in the work behind the scenes, so these big moments for her have been earned. Torina also noted that Edwards is one of the best she’s seen at LSU, comparing her to names like Carley Hoover, Allie Walljasper and Sahvanna Jaquish.
Edwards wasn’t the only Tiger to step up big to keep LSU in the game. When the offense struggled, the Bayou Bengals slowed the game, seeing multiple pitches and making Florida pitcher Kegan Rothrock work to get outs. This method ended up drawing walks for Danieca Coffey and Maddox McKee.
It was the same for both teams. This difficulty in getting the other team out was mutual.
Tatum Clopton came into the game in relief of Heavener in the third inning. She’s been stellar this season in the circle in her appearances, but not even she was unscathed in this high-scoring matchup.
Few RBIs for the Gators were off hits; most were coming from sacrifice fly balls and ground balls moving runners around, attesting to the difficulty of getting outs without scoring runs. Not many outs in Game 1 were given to the other team, whether the outs were purple or orange.
Despite the difficulty of getting out, Florida still came out on top. The Gators topped the Tigers in six innings of high-scoring softball.
The Tigers will try to even the series in Game 2 on Sunday, April 27, at 5 p.m. in Tiger Park.
