After suffering its first losing streak this season, the No. 1 LSU softball team rebounded with a 2-0 victory in Game 3 of its series at No. 16 Kentucky on Sunday by relying on the arm of sophomore pitcher Baylee Corbello.
Although the Tigers (32-3, 6-3 Southeastern Conference) struggled offensively and in the circle through the first two games, LSU broke through in Game 3 behind Corbello’s fourth complete game shutout this season. She allowed only three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters.
“She was unbelievable [in Game 3],” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “It may have been the best game I’ve ever seen her pitch.”
Despite stranding four runners in scoring position in the first three innings, the Tigers’ lineup found the rhythm it was missing during the first two games in the top of the fourth.
After junior catcher Kellsi Kloss singled and junior first baseman Sandra Simmons reached second on a bunt single and a throwing error, senior designated player Dylan Supak drove in Kloss with a single to right center.
Freshman left fielder Emily Griggs capped off the Tigers’ scoring with a RBI single through the left side. Griggs didn’t record a hit in the first two games of series, but she exploded for a career performance in Game 3. Griggs went a perfect 3-3, including her first career triple.
“She saw her video last night,” Torina said. “She made some adjustments. She had a phenomenal day. I’m really proud of her response to the first few days where she struggled.”
But Griggs’ performance was the exception to the rule during the Tigers’ first series loss of 2015.
In Game 1 and Game 2, LSU’s lineup fell flat against Kentucky’s (23-9, 3-6 SEC) pitching staff, especially junior ace Kelsey Nunley (10-5).
“[Nunley] is really talented,” Torina said. “She has a really great coach calling pitches for her, so the combination of two is really tough for anybody.”
LSU’s offense has carried the Tigers throughout this season, but Kentucky’s pitching staff allowed the Tigers only five runs on their 20 hits in the series.
Uncharacteristically, the Tigers were unable to string together hits and left 16 runners on base in Game 1 and Game 2, including 11 runners left in scoring position.
Nunley shut out LSU in Game 1 on Friday night until the sixth inning, when Kloss put the Tigers on the board with a sacrifice fly. Although Kloss cut the Wildcats’ lead to two runs, Nunley retired the Tigers in order in the seventh, sealing LSU’s second Friday night SEC loss on the road.
In Game 2 on Saturday afternoon, Kentucky’s left-handed pitching duo of freshman Erin Rethlake and sophomore Meagan Prince wrecked the Tigers’ lineup.
Rethlake and Prince shut down LSU’s four left-handed batters, including leadoff hitters senior center fielder A.J. Andrews and sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry. The pair’s struggles at the plate disrupted the flow of the Tigers’ lineup.
Despite hitting more than .430 and combining for 42 walks this season, Andrews and Landry went 2-8 with two strikeouts against Prince and Rethlake in Game 2.
After the lefties struggled Saturday, Simmons and Griggs responded in Game 3, tallying four hits and an RBI.
“Our lefties did much better [in Game 3],” Torina said. “Lefty-lefty matchup is always going to be tough no matter who you’re facing.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.