After a back-and-forth contest, No. 17 LSU softball topped Ole Miss 7-6, securing its third SEC series win of the year on Saturday.
The Tigers were a threat on the plate all game, racking up nine hits compared to Ole Miss’s five.
The score could have gone either way, as the lead changed five times throughout the matchup. LSU did well to consistently put up runs through the innings, only failing to score in one of six innings.
The bulk of Ole Miss’s offense came in bands of scoring, recording a dominant three-run second inning and two-run sixth inning, which helped them come close to a comeback.
LSU’s defense did not play to the best of its ability, but did enough in some clutch moments to secure the win.
Jayden Heavener was given the starting duties this contest, but did not have her best night, leading to her being replaced early on. Heavener finished her night with a 2.77 ERA, giving up four runs on two hits and five walks.
Heaveners’ replacement, Tatum Clopton, had the best night of the bullpen, finishing with a 2.35 ERA, allowing only two hits and runs, while also recording two strikeouts.
Paytn Monticelli was the last pitcher used, pushing through the final 1.2 innings. She’d propel the Tigers to the win while not allowing a run and recording two strikeouts in clutch moments.
The Rebels were first to score in the matchup, but the Tigers responded quickly to an early deficit. Kylee Edwards came up for her first at-bat, and on a 2-0 count, the shortstop hit a ball into left field, advancing Jalia Lassiter home for an RBI single.
On the next at-bat, Alix Franklin would hit a sacrifice fly, advancing Daniel to third. On the throw to third, though, the Rebels’ shortstop dropped the ball, leading to runners capitalizing on the error with Sierra Daniel advancing home and Kylee Edwards reaching third.
After some strong Rebels’ fielding held the Tigers’ lead at only one, Heavener fell into a slump in the second, letting the bases get loaded after three straight walks.
On the following pitch, Rebels’ catcher Kennedy Bunker hit a sacrifice fly, sending one runner home. While tied, Mackenzie Pickens followed up with a double into left field that soared right over Ryle Johnson’s outstretched glove, sending the two remaining runners home. That marked Pickens’ third RBI of the afternoon, as the Rebels jumped back in front 4-2.
The Tigers refused to go down easily and started clawing their way back in the second. Allie Hutchins continued her recent batting hot streak and started it with a double. She was later sent home for the lone run of the inning after Lassiter hit a single, which was erred by the defense.
To start the third inning, Heavener allowed her fourth walk of the contest, leading to head coach Beth Torina replacing her with Clopton.
LSU’s batters stayed hot in the bottom of the third and continued to put up more runs. On the second Tiger at-bat, Franklin drove a ball into left-center field for a double. Tori Edwards would be the next batter up and, while riding the momentum, hit a double into center field, which sent Franklin home for a game-tying one-run double.
On Ole Miss’s turn at bat in the fourth, Clopton continued dealing pitches, only allowing one hit before ending the inning by forcing a flyout.
Despite an Ole Miss pitching change to start the inning, the Tigers kept racking up nice hits in the bottom of the fourth. Lassiter followed a Hodge walk with a double, putting runners in scoring position while only on one out.
On the following at-bat, Kylee Edwards made Tiger Park erupt in cheers, as she smashed a single far down left field, sending the runners on second and third home unscathed.
Ole Miss’s offense seemed to start running out of juice in the fifth inning, as it was unable to record a hit. That would be the third straight scoreless inning for the Rebels, as they sat down 6-4 with all the momentum still on LSU’s side.
Ole Miss’s offense seemed to wake back up in the sixth, as it got runners to second and third base off a walk and a single.
Torina then elected to replace Clopton on the mound with Paytn Monticelli, despite the fifth-year senior’s strong performance. The switch proved to be a poor decision, though, as on the next pitch, the Rebels sent both runners home off a Bunker single.
Despite the early run, Monticelli refused to let up easily and ended the inning at 6-6, after forcing a strikeout and groundout.
The Tigers seemed determined not to let the contest get to extra innings, as a Lassiter walk, followed by singles by Daniel and Franklin, loaded up the bases while on two outs.
Tori Edwards would be up to bat as Tiger Park grew louder and louder. Rebels’ pitcher Lilly Whitten seemed hesitant to throw into the strike zone, as Edwards took her to a 3-2 count. After some dramatic foul balls kept Edwards on the plate, Whitten gave up the fourth ball, advancing Lassiter home for the 7-6 lead.
With bases still loaded, Char Lorenz took the count to three balls, but a groundout ended the inning shortly after. LSU now just had to hold Ole Miss scoreless in the seventh to end the contest.
Ole Miss wouldn’t go out without a fight, as a runner advanced to third base after a walk. Monticelli then caused some panic around Tiger Park after hitting a batter.
After some more base-running drama got a runner to second, Monticelli refused to let the pressure get to her and ended the contest at 7-6 with a strikeout.
The series will continue with the third and final matchup between LSU and Ole Miss on Sunday at 1 p.m.
