If the LSU softball team wanted to earn a statement win over No. 5 Tennessee on a chilly Friday night in Tiger Park, they needed to win a pitching battle.
But for the Tigers’ star ace Ali Kilponen, all it took was one poor inning to spoil an otherwise strong night in the circle. Tennessee star right-hander Ashley Rogers simply out-pitched her counterpart. The Vols (22-1, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) took the first of a three-game set 5-0, capitalizing at the plate on the few mistakes Kilponen made in the circle.
“I think we’ve got to fight harder,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “I didn’t like our effort tonight at all; didn't like our approach. I think we need to fight harder, not just at the plate, but all over the field. I just thought that was one of the worst efforts of the year, as far as our mentality goes, so I think we’ll be better tomorrow.”
Kilponen lost her touch in the third inning. After the Vols hit a single, nine-hole hitter Katie Taylor cranked a two-run homer to center field, and then two batters walked. Tennessee scored four runs in the inning, giving Rogers all the cushion she needed.
Rogers struck out nine batters across seven scoreless innings of work, surrendering only two hits and two walks. Kilponen also went the distance, but allowed four earned runs — three in the third inning. In the other six innings, she allowed only four hits, three walks and one run. She struck out seven.
“(Rogers) is really talented,” Torina said, “one of the best pitchers in the league, without question.”
Through five innings, LSU (23-3, 2-2) recorded only two hits and placed only one runner in scoring position. Ali Newland smacked the first hit, a grounder up the middle, in the second inning. And Karli Petty smacked the second. Her hit in the fifth frame was a double off a line drive to the right field corner.
But each time, LSU failed to advance the runners. In the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers couldn’t muster a single hit. Newland grounded out to the shortstop. Petty popped out to first base. And pinch-hitter Savannah Stewart flew out to left field.
“We’ve got two SEC losses, and we’ve lost two innings,” Torina said. “It’s tough. We have to stop the bleeding quicker there.”
The second game of the series is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Saturday, and Game 3 will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday. Each game will be broadcast online with SEC Network+.
On Saturday, LSU will likely trot out freshman Sydney Berzon to start in the circle. She’s expected to face senior Payton Gottshall, whose 0.67 ERA ranks 14th in the country.