The unconventional worked in favor of Arkansas softball as it topped LSU to start the series off positively in their favor.
Game 1 of the last series of SEC play for the Tigers and the Razorbacks was unconventional in many ways, and not pitcher-friendly in any of them. The top of the first inning was paused momentarily for the Arkansas grounds crew to repack the pitchers lane after two Bayou Bengals walked in non-competitive counts.
Repacking the pitchers lane only seemed to do so much because another Tiger walked and the next two saw deep counts before the inning ended.
Pitching struggles continued throughout the entire game, but the most notable moment was the big first inning for the Hogs.
But it wasn’t just the first inning; free passes were wild for both teams throughout the first game, furthering the unconventional nature of Game 1. Between six total pitchers, 21 walks were given by both teams throughout seven innings of comeback softball.
The Razorbacks had a few big swings early, but their bats were mostly stifled after the second inning. LSU’s bats were turned on after they found themselves in a hole that would prove difficult to dig out of.
The game wasn’t tied back up because Arkansas continued to add a few runs here and there.
The unconventional continued as the offense took over for the Tigers. The offense pulling together came from the pitchers who ran the game after starter Sydney Berzon was pulled in the first inning.
LSU had to change their approach to handling their pitchers after Arkansas put up seven runs in the first inning. LSU pitched by staff in Game 1, and it was a last resort effort that came up big for this team. This could be one of the things that boosts their RPI for the postseason.
This team hasn’t faced much adversity in the pitching realm until lately, so having to pitch by staff in this game while the offense takes over is going to be a boost in their resume for the postseason.
Softball is a game of odds. Anything can happen on any given day, and this unconventional game might have given the Tigers a bigger postseason resume than anyone assumed going into this series.
Head coach Beth Torina spoke about how big the final two weekends of SEC play were going to be for LSU, and half way through the mission, the final two weeks have proven to be huge so far. This unconventional game will prepare the Tigers for the future, despite the outcome.
“I think the next couple weeks are really important for us not just for SEC play, but for postseason implications,” Torina said. “I think there’s a lot of things in front of us. It’s all still in our control, if we can play well.”
Overcoming a deficit as big as they did while handling the challenges that came along with it will be significant in the long run for this team of young Tigers.
Earlier in the season, Torina spoke heavily about wanting to toughen the youth of this team as they gelled. As the Bayou Bengals overcame the last four games, they have shown the toughness and relentlessness the middle section of SEC play has given them.
The oddities of this game didn’t end here; a Sierra Daniel bunt caused another delay. When she laid the bunt down and dropped the bat, the bat hit the ball, but because it wasn’t in her hands the play wasn’t reviewable. Daniel was safe at first base.
Following the delay for Daniel’s bunt, catcher Maci Bergeron was ruled out for not being reentered into the game, but the unconventional part came from a footrace of the coaches to get the home plate umpire’s attention.
Despite the big comeback from LSU, Arkansas took the game 12-9.
The Tigers will try to recreate what happened against Florida in the second game of the series on Friday at 6 p.m. in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
