No. 22 LSU softball fell to No. 21 South Carolina 6-5 on Friday after a dramatic 12-inning contest.
The two were neck and neck throughout the contest, with both teams displaying great hitting, until batters stalled out in extra innings. LSU had many opportunities throughout the contest to take the game away, but was unable to beat the Gamecock defense in big moments.
Despite the loss, LSU recorded its most hits in a conference game this season with 11. The batting was headlined by Jaila Lassiter and Kylee Edwards, who combined for five hits and two runs.
Head coach Beth Torina gave Tatom Cloptom the first start of the series after her big win Monday against Texas A&M. She played well in the two innings before Paytn Monticelli and Jayden Heavner helped out with innings of their own. The Tiger bullpen finished their day with nine strikeouts and 15 hits allowed.
In the first inning, both LSU and South Carolina batters got off to a good start. LSU loaded up bases off walks and an error, but good Gamecock fielding forced a scoreless inning for the Tigers.
South Carolina also recorded two hits in the first, but LSU responded with strong defense to end the first inning scoreless.
That would be the only scoreless inning for South Carolina for a while, though. Gamecocks’ third baseman Tate Davis smashed a homer into left field on the first pitch of the bottom of the second.
South Carolina did not slow down in the second, scoring again only two pitches later, after designated hitter Jamie Mackay homered another ball into right-center field. Clopton was able to follow up on her struggles, though, and force a strikeout and groundout to end the inning 2-0.
In the third inning, the Tigers would respond quickly to their deficit. Lassiter started things off with a double, followed by a walk by Tori Edwards and a single by Char Lorenz.
With bases loaded, Maci Bergeron hit a ground ball short into left field, sending Lassiter home while taking the out at first base. Kylee Edwards then kept up her hot streak, hitting a single through right field, which sent Lorenz and Tori Edwards home.
While one run-down, South Carolina fought back quickly, recording two singles on its first two pitches. Gamecocks centerfielder Tori Ensley grounded out at second base, but that was all they needed to send a runner home from third.
The game went into the fourth tied at 3-3.
LSU’s offense dug itself a hole at the start of the inning after a nice South Carolina double play. Lassiter followed up well, though, with her second double of the night.
Tori Edwards was then intentionally walked to avoid a big hit on two outs, but that decision looked questionable after Lorenz was walked on the following pitch, which loaded up the bases.
South Carolina got out of the inning still tied, however, after Alix Franklin grounded a ball out at second base. LSU would quickly end the fourth, though, after forcing their hitless inning of the day.
The fifth inning was a great display of batting by both teams. LSU started the inning off with a double by Bergeron, which was quickly followed by a Tori Edwards nuke into center field. The Tigers would turn the bats over to South Carolina, up two with two and a half innings left to play.
The Gamecocks would not let up easily, recording three straight singles that advanced one runner home. Catcher Lexi Winters smashed a double into right-center field, which sent another runner home, tying up the game.
LSU went scoreless in the sixth, giving South Carolina a great chance to take their first lead since the second inning. The Gamecocks couldn’t capitalize, however, only getting two singles before three outs.
Both teams entered the seventh under pressure, knowing any run could be the decider.
In the ninth, LSU fell to two outs on the first two pitches, but a double by Franklin gave the Tigers a lifeline. Bergeron would be up to bat, but wouldn’t help out after being struck out on a 3-2 count.
South Carolina then looked menacing out of the gate, recording a single on the first pitch. LSU’s defense wouldn’t let the game end, though, after racking up three straight outs to force a tenth inning.
It wasn’t until the twelfth inning that action continued. LSU went scoreless after a one-hit top of the inning, leaving the game in the hands of South Carolina. The Gamecocks would get a runner on base off a single quickly and advance her to second after a wild pitch.
The contest got away from the Tigers after Heavner gave up a single to Gamecock first-baseman Arianna Rodi, sending a runner home for a walk-off single RBI. The Tigers would fall 6-5 after 12 dramatic innings.
Now LSU looks to come back with a win in its second contest against South Carolina on Saturday at 12 p.m.
