Much like Wednesday’s doubleheader against Mississippi State, the LSU softball team fell behind early.
Unlike yesterday, the Tigers never mounted a comeback.
An abundance of problems in the field and a lack of timely hitting caused LSU to fall to the Bulldogs in the last game of a three-game series in Starkville, Miss., 6-2
Thursday the Lady Tigers committed five errors and gave up five unearned runs on the team’s way to defeat.
The fielding massacre started in the second inning.
With LSU leading 1-0 off a Blair Smith RBI walk, pitcher Kristen Schmidt retired the first two Bulldog batters she faced. Then the wheels fell off.
First baseman Kate Jaspers reached on a double, designated player Lindsay Nelson reached first base on an error by shortstop Blair Smith, with Jaspers moving to third. Left fielder Krystal Tillman also reached on another error by Smith, as Jaspers scored MSU’s first run.
Lindsay Nelson then scored on a Jennifer Nelson single and the Bulldogs led 2-1.
After LSU went down in order in the third, more defensive ineptitude reared its ugly face.
After Smith walked Iyhia McMichael, Jennifer Waterman singled, and both players advanced to third and second, respectively, on a throwing error. Jennifer Jessup was then hit by a pitch, and the bases were loaded.
Pinch hitter Tanelda McDonald hit a sacrifice fly scoring McMichael, and pinch runner Meagan O’nan scored on another throwing error. Jessup scored on a Nelson bunt single.
MSU closed out its scoring in the fifth inning with another unearned run.
McDonald singled with one out, and moved to third on a Jaspers single. McDonald scored on a throwing error on a Tillman bunt.
LSU was able to muster a run in the sixth inning, but it was too little, too late.
The Tigers now face SEC West leading Alabama in a doubleheader Saturday at 4 p.m. followed by a single game at 1 p.m. Sunday in Tiger Park.