No. 15 LSU softball managed to get a 5-3 win in its last contest against No. 19 Mississippi State, off the back of strong performances from shortstop Kylee Edwards and pitcher Paytn Monticelli.
LSU won the hitting matchup throughout the contest with seven hits compared to Mississippi State’s six. The Tigers’ runs came from clutch two-run home runs hit by Kylee Edwards and Tori Edwards.
LSU’s defense was also huge in getting the Tigers’ 10th conference win of the season.
Against her former team, Kylee Edwards recorded three putouts and four assisted outs with three double plays.
Monticelli featured in every inning and allowed only four hits and one run. She finished her day with a 2.55 ERA, capping off a productive series.
In the first inning, LSU again found ways to score early. After a Sierra Daniel walk, Kylee Edwards hit her first home run of the series into left-center field to give LSU an early 2-0 lead.
It wouldn’t take long for Mississippi State to even the score, though, as its leadoff batter hit a double to start the inning. Then Bulldog third basemen Nadia Barbary hit a rocket into center field for a two-run home run.
Despite not even having an out in the first inning yet, head coach Beth Torina made a strict decision to pull Clopton off the mound and replace her with Monticelli.
The change seemed to slow things down in the second, as both defenses started to click.
The Bulldogs started the inning by holding LSU hitless in its turn at bat, before LSU’s defense made a nice double play to end its side of the inning.
In the third inning, the Tiger offense got going.
Jaila Lassiter was the first to get a hit in the inning with a single, before Daniel advanced her to second with a single of her own. Alix Franklin then got the third LSU base hit of the inning with another single, which was enough to advance Lassiter home from second, giving LSU the lead.
LSU’s defense continued to look good when it needed to hold Mississippi State scoreless. Monticelli forced a 1-2-3 out inning off the back of a double play, booting the Tigers’ momentum.
After LSU’s big hitting inning, Mississippi State replaced Faircloth with Peja Goold after her amazing 11-strikeout performance Saturday.
Goold immediately made things hard for LSU, holding Tiger batters hitless through the fourth.
Monticelli responded to the offensive struggles well, though, forcing another 1-2-3 out inning, keeping the LSU lead at one.
Again, Goold looked in full control in the fifth, forcing her second 1-2-3 out inning.
The Bulldogs’ offense seemed to wake back up in the fifth, as they quickly loaded up the bases without an out.
A groundout on the following pitch was enough to send a runner home and tie up the game, but on the following at-bat, Kylee Edwards forced her third clutch double play to end the inning before the lead was lost.
LSU responded quickly.
Kylee Edwards again started off the offense by beating a throw to first base for a single. Then, the double Edwards connection clicked as Tori Edwards smashed her first home run of the series to retake the lead at 5-3.
The scores prompted Mississippi State to make another pitching change, replacing Goold with Delainey Everett.
Monticelli continued her great day on the mound by allowing only one hit through the inning. Now, the Bulldogs were left with only one inning to make the comeback.
Mississippi State’s defense did well to keep the game in reach by holding LSU hitless in the seventh, but it wouldn’t lead to anything, as Monticelli again held the Bulldogs hitless in their last chance at bat.
LSU would make its trip back to Baton Rouge a bit more enjoyable with the Game 3 win, despite the weekend of poor results.
LSU plays McNeese next at Tiger Park for the final midweek matchup of the season, Tuesday at 6 p.m.
