No. 15 LSU softball lost its second contest to No. 18 Mississippi State Saturday, 5-2, resulting in an upset SEC series loss.
The matchup looked to be a high-scoring one after a six-run first inning, but the contest became a fast-paced defensive one after both pitchers got going.
The story of the day was Mississippi State pitcher Peja Goold, who had an 11-strikeout day. The senior only allowed seven hits and two runs, finishing with an amazing 2.08 ERA.
Despite the loss, Cellura also had a decent day after the five-run first inning. Cellura finished with five strikeouts and held the Bulldogs scoreless through the last six innings.
In the first inning, it wouldn’t take long for LSU to drive in its first run. After Jaila Lassiter struck out on LSU’s first at-bat, Sierra Daniel responded by knocking a ball out of the park into right-center field for an early 1-0 lead.
On the following at-bat, former Bulldog Kylee Edwards got her first hit of the series with a single to left field. That would be all the Tigers could get in the first inning, though, as Goold forced a flyout and strikeout on the following two batters.
Mississippi State immediately responded to LSU’s early run.
The Bulldogs started the inning by getting two runners on base with singles. Paije Ernstes then blasted a home run to left-center field, quickly jumping back on top 3-1. That also marked Ernsres’ second three-run home run in back-to-back games.
Mississippi State continued getting hits throughout the inning, with another single off a fielding error by Daniel. On the next at-bat, Xiane Romero extended the lead to 5-1 with a two-run homer into left field.
Mississippi State maintained its four-run advantage in the second inning, as Goold retired three straight Tiger batters.
Cellura also stayed composed after the early runs, forcing a quick 1-2-3 out inning of her own.
In the third, Lassiter and Kylee Edwards quickly got on first and second base, before Alix Franklin hit a ball short into center field. The single led Lassiter to cross home and beat the throw.
Goold continued her productive day in the fourth, despite hitting Maci Bergeron on the first at-bat. Goold ended the inning by striking out three straight batters, stretching her tally to nine.
The back-and-forth pitching battle continued, as Cellurla again forced a 1-2-3 inning of her own, taking the contest into the fifth inning.
Kylee Edwars would be the lone Tiger to get a hit in the fifth, before Cellura returned to the mound. She’d also only allow one hit, resulting in the LSU defense’s fourth straight scoreless inning.
With LSU needing runs with only two innings to go, Tori Edwards started the offense off with a single. Despite needing urgency, the Tigers couldn’t get anything else. Head coach Beth Torina made some changes to the batting lineup, but nothing could stop Goold, as she retired three more batters.
LSU’s defense kept its deficit to three after allowing only one hit in the sixth inning, which led to the Tigers counting on a huge final inning.
LSU’s best batter, Lassiter, managed to get her first hit of the contest to start the inning with a single, but it would soon prove pointless. Goold finished her afternoon the same way she had been playing all game, forcing out three straight batters to end the contest, 5-2.
LSU now looks to finish the away series with a win on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. CT.
