The No. 3 LSU softball team fell to No. 15 Missouri, 7-2, in Game 1 of the Tigers’ last away series of the season Saturday night.
Although first pitch was originally scheduled for 2 p.m., inclement weather in the area pushed back the start time to 6 p.m.
After LSU (41-7, 13-6 Southeastern Conference) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning, Missouri (34-10, 12-7 SEC) rallied back to score seven unanswered runs runs by taking advantage of mistakes by LSU’s pitchers. 
LSU’s offense rolled early. Junior shortstop Bianka Bell drove in the first run with a single in the first inning. In the third, junior catcher Kellsi Kloss extended LSU’s lead to 2-0 with a solo homer.
Despite LSU’s early success, Missouri’s freshman pitcher Paige Lowary shut out the Tigers’ lineup after the third, finishing with nine strikeouts and only four walks. 
After Missouri tied the game with a two-out, two-run homer, the rain picked up and forced the game into another rain delay with two outs left in the bottom of the third inning.  
While Lowary dominated in the circle for Missouri, the Tigers’ pitching staff struggled to close out innings, allowing three two-out runs. 
Freshman starting pitcher Carley Hoover (9-3) allowed two homers with two down — a two-run homer in the third and solo home run in the fourth. 
After sophomore pitcher Baylee Corbello (9-2) replaced Hoover in the fourth inning, Corbello gave up two runs on walks and one on a wild pitch before Hoover re-entered in the same frame. 
Missouri added three more insurance runs in the fifth, extending its lead to 7-2. 
LSU will look to even the series against Missouri in Game 2 at 3 p.m. Sunday.