LSU Tigers softball opened Southeastern Conference play a little earlier than expected due to inclement weather, but that didn’t stop the Purple and Gold from getting off to a fast start against the Wildcats of Kentucky. The Tigers got a strong outing from their ace, Sydney Berzon, as they began the SEC slate 1-0 with a 4-1 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After a short top of the first, LSU’s offense got moving quickly in their SEC opener as they plated three in the frame. It started with a walk to Danieca Coffey, who was tagged out on a fielder’s choice. Notre Dame High product Maci Bergeron later walked to set up a bloop RBI single from Tori Edwards to make it 1-0. McKenzie Redoutey then brought everyone home with a two-run triple to left center to increase it to 3-0.
LSU kept things rolling in the second as well with a walk to McKaela Walker and singles from Avery Hodge and Coffey loaded the bases with no outs. Bergeron got a one-out single to left field to score Walker, but Hodge was thrown out at the plate for the second out.
Kentucky loaded the bases in the third inning with a leadoff walk followed by a pair of infield singles before a sacrifice fly to left field scored the first run for the Wildcats.
After a quick four runs in the first two innings, LSU’s offense really struggled to get anything of substance going against Kentucky’s pitching once Carson Fall came into the circle. Hodge did get a line drive single to left field off of Fall with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to put a pair of runners on for the top of the order and Coffey. However, Fall induced a flyout to end the threat.
In the seventh, Berzon and the LSU defense finished the job and took game one of SEC Opening Weekend over Kentucky in a 4-1 final.
BIG NUMBER: .167
Berzon held Kentucky’s lineup to just a .167 (4-24) batting average on the afternoon as she really rattled the Wildcats’ order early on.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Sydney Berzon
LSU’s ace was once again very good in the circle. She pitched a complete game and gave up just one run and four hits on the afternoon. The junior also struck out 4 in the victory while holding Kentucky’s lineup below the Mendoza line.
UP NEXT: Game two of the SEC opening series is set for 5:00 p.m. from Tiger Park between #4 LSU and #23 Kentucky on Saturday afternoon.