LSU softball suffered its first loss Thursday, a heavy shutout on the road that placed a damper on its mood. The motivation from the loss, however, sparked a bounce-back win in the very next game.
The No. 10 Tigers were handed their first loss against No. 8 Nebraska in the Shriners Clearwater Invitational. Sophomore pitcher Jayden Heavener had a rocky start on the mound to open the invitational, only pitching 3.2 innings, giving up four hits and one run.
Senior pitcher Paytn Monticelli stepped up to the challenge to relieve Heavener with the Cornhuskers leading 3-0, but quickly gave up a run that had advanced Nebraska once more. When the Tigers finally battled out of the inning on a flyout, it was up to the offense to redeem themselves from the irregular defensive display.
The Tigers’ at-bats simply lacked motion — until the seventh inning.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving LSU hope. Despite this, LSU didn’t score a single run. Three quick outs would kill the Tigers.
A high strike called on senior outfielder Jalia Lassiter ended the game as Nebraska pitcher Jordy Frahm closed out the inning to take a 6-0 advantage over LSU. Cornhuskers’ starting pitcher Alexis Jensen took the win for her team, even after only pitching the first two innings.
Facing Oklahoma State later in the afternoon, LSU had to redeem itself from the game prior. OSU had defeated Georgia in its game prior, a team clearly ready to face its second SEC school of the afternoon.
The last two times LSU faced OSU in the Clearwater Invitational, the Tigers walked away with a win. In the 2024 season, LSU won 7-6. In 2022, the Tigers run-ruled the Cowgirls, taking home a thrilling 10-2 win.
Junior pitcher Cece Cellura gained the start in the circle for the Tigers the second time around. Cellura pitched the whole game.
LSU didn’t wait long to score, with redshirt sophomore first baseman Tori Edwards slamming a solo home run to take an early 1-0 lead in the second inning.
OSU didn’t go down without a fight. The Cowgirls scored two runs in the fourth inning to get their bats moving. And in the sixth inning, OSU would score one more run to be within a two-run reach. Cellura would have to find a way to keep the seventh inning.
The Tigers’ bats certainly made up for their no-show in the matchup against Nebraska.
LSU continued to build its lead in the seventh, as an RBI triple to left by junior utility player Sierra Daniel would knock in another run for the Tigers to take a 6-2 lead.
Third baseman Ally Hutchins knocked in one more to make the lead 7-3. Hutchins scored another, and Edwards stole home to take a 9-3 lead that would end on an Alix Franklin groundout.
The Tigers were certainly comfortable in the seven-run lead they now attained before heading into the last half of the inning. LSU just needed to hold on for three more outs to take home the victory.
What did Cellura and the team do? Exactly that.
Despite another OSU run scored, three quick outs would give the Tigers a 9-4 win to successfully complete Thursday afternoon with a 1-1 record on the day. Cellura earned her second win of the season.
The Tigers will continue the Clearwater Invitational against Duke Friday afternoon, before playing UCF Saturday. Their time at the invitational will wrap up on Sunday against No. 7 UCLA.
