LSU softball couldn’t follow up its undefeated opening weekend, as it went 0-3 in its final games at the Clearwater Invitational with two upsets and a blowout loss.
The No. 10 Tigers couldn’t close out a tight opening game against No. 19 Duke on Friday, losing 5-3.
The contest started off quickly with Duke getting two runs in the top of the first. LSU would follow that up with a Jaila Lassiter run shortly after a big triple to start LSU’s batting lineup off. LSU was able to load up the bases in the first, but good defense from Duke only led to one run.
Duke kept up the momentum going in the second, scoring two more runs off a triple and a wild pitch. On the other hand, LSU started to stall out, picking up three quick outs.
After a great defensive third inning by both teams, Duke was able to pick up its fifth run of the day in the fourth, stretching its lead to 5-1.
LSU needed a spark in the fourth to start a comeback, and fans thought they might be getting just that after freshman Alix Franklin homered a rocket to left center, her first career home run. Kylee Edwards and Amy Hodge helped provide hits for the offense, both getting singles that led to another run before the end of the fourth.
What LSU hoped was the start of a comeback quickly proved fruitless, failing to get on base in the fifth and sixth innings. Despite a solid five-strikeout game from Jayden Heavner, LSU’s offense failed to help the squad rally back.
Lassiter’s seventh-inning double was the last chance for LSU, but it wasn’t enough to break down Duke’s defense.
The Blue Devil pitcher, Cassidy Curd, handled LSU’s stars well to end the game. Curd got a clutch strikeout on Tori Edwards and forced two flyouts on Ally Hutchins and Maci Bergeron, all in the bottom of the seventh, killing any chance of a late-game comeback for the Tigers.
LSU then would struggle on Saturday against unranked UCF, losing 5-1.
Lassiter would continue her hot streak to start the game, scoring a run to match UCF at 1-1 in the first. She looked like the only offensive spark despite the loss, finishing 3-3 along with the run.
Tatum Clopton started for the Tigers and kept it a close contest, recording four strikeouts. Her struggles would come in the fourth inning, after a UCF homerun ignited its offense. The Knights scored another run off a single, causing LSU head coach Beth Torina to pull Clopton from the mound, replaced by Cece Cellura.
Over the next three innings, Cellura struggled all the same, only recording two strikeouts while giving up five hits. UCF would get two runs off Cellura in the sixth off another multi-hit inning, stretching the lead to 5-1.
A big reason for UCF’s six-inning shutout was due to sophomore pitcher Isabella Vega getting subbed in the fifth inning. Prior to her time on the mound, UCF gave up six hits and walked two Tigers. With Vega in, the Knights got their first two strikeouts of the contest and a three-inning shutout.
Overall, LSU’s struggles came down to poor defense, giving up 13 hits, a season high for the Tigers.
LSU looked to bounce back Sunday morning against No. 7 UCLA, but a poor overall performance led to an 8-0 finish in the Tigers’ last game at Clearwater.
From the very start of the contest, UCLA seemed to have the upper hand, getting a quick 1-2-3 inning defending LSU, and then scoring two runs in the bottom of the first.
The second inning was basically the same story; despite a big Franklin triple, UCLA would only give up that one hit and score two runs of its own across the inning.
Paytn Monticelli was the starting pitcher in the contest. After a rough start, giving up two early runs, Cellura was again subbed in to help out. The swap proved to be pointless quickly, though, after UCLA doubled its lead in the second after a two-run double.
Cellura would force a scoreless inning in the third, but after giving up a single to start the bottom of the fourth, Heavener was called upon to relieve. Yet again, UCLA’s batters proved too powerful for the Tigers, getting a two-run homer on Heavener’s second pitch.
The Bruins kept edging closer to a run rule, getting an unearned run before the end of the fifth, making the score 7-0.
UCLA finished off the contest an inning early after a big walk-off hit sent a runner home from third. This marked the first time this season LSU was beaten in a run rule, a disappointing finish to the Clearwater Classic.
LSU’s overall biggest issue in this contest was its inability to keep the game close early. UCLA dominated on defense, making almost every inning seem like a quick three outs, while the Tigers recorded a season-low three hits.
The Tigers will likely drop from their No. 10 ranking in the coming days, but look to bounce back in the Purple and Gold Challenge starting Friday.
