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No. 7 LSU softball lost the rubber match against No. 4 Tennessee on Sunday to drop its third straight Southeastern Conference series.
After the Vols shutout the Tigers 3-0 in the first game on Friday, LSU responded with a 1-0 shutout on Saturday.
With the series tied, each team battled to secure the win in game three. After five scoreless innings, Tennessee scored three runs in the sixth to take the series.
READ MORE: Key moments from LSU softball’s three games against Auburn
Because of the win in game 2, head coach Beth Torina made history for the Tigers.
She became the winningest head coach for LSU softball with 527 wins. Torina is among five LSU head coaches with at least 500 wins, and the only active coach at LSU with 500 or more wins.
The showdown in Rocky Top featured three pitchers' duels. It was LSU's Sydney Berzon and Kelley Lynch vs. Tennessee’s Payton Gottshall and Karlyn Pickens.
These pitchers recorded over 30 strikeouts, and the outcome of each game came down to a few runs.
LSU is now 35-10 and 11-10 in the SEC. Here are some takeaways from the series loss.
LSU adjusted to Tennessee’s top-tier pitching, but Vols came out on top
Vols pitchers Gottshall and Pickens rank in the SEC top five for ERA. Pickens constantly throws 74-75 mph and has an effective changeup that throws batters off.
In game 1, Gottshall shut out LSU and pitched a perfect game for five innings. Pickens then closed the game to get the win.
LSU would have to make an adjustment for the next two games.
On Saturday, the Tigers changed their approach at the plate by attacking early pitches, putting balls into play off fast pitches to avoid Pickens’ change up.
While they came up short with repeated ground outs, Raeleen Gutierrez capitalized on the powerful pitching in the fourth inning. She timed a fastball perfectly to blast a home run to the right field bleachers.
In game 3, the Tigers were getting on base, but couldn’t stir up anything to bring a runner home. On the other hand, the Vols pitching staff was making it hard with consistent strikeouts.
Together, Gottshall and Pickens won the battle over Berzon in the series finale.
Errors cost LSU the win in game 1
LSU, who is fifth in the SEC for fielding percentage, made many errors that gave up runs in the first game.
In the fourth inning with two Vols on base, shortstop Taylor Pleasants threw an out at second that went off Karli Petty’s glove. The runner on third scored.
A few plays later, a ground ball went off the glove of freshman Sierra Daniel, and Tennessee extended its lead to 2-0.
Then, Daniel tried to dive for a ground ball between the 5-6 hole, but missed, and the Vols got their last run of the night.
Freshman third baseman shined in her first collegiate start
Madyson Manning came to LSU with the expectation that she’d redshirt her freshman year.
After Daniel made two errors in game 1 to give up a run, Manning was put in for her first collegiate start on Saturday.
She created five outs and caught a few line drives that would’ve been singles.
The road to finding a replacement for Danieca Coffey after her season-ending injury has been tough for the Tigers. The trial-and-error process resulted in their batting lineup changing multiple times, and it has been a revolving door at third base.
In this series, Manning proved to be an answer for LSU’s problem.
Controversial call in game 3 effects outcome
Berzon threw a pitch in the sixth inning to Vols’ hitter Giulia Koutsoyano that was called a ball. However, every LSU player and coach believed it was in the strike zone.
Torina called a meeting in the circle, and catcher Maci Bergeron nodded her head yes that it was a strike.
With two outs and the bases loaded, the count was then 2-0. Berzon then threw two consecutive strikes. If the call would've been a strike earlier, the inning would’ve been over.
But, Koutsoyano hit a full-count double to bring home two runners, giving Tennessee the go-ahead runs.
Torina was heated and then ejected. The game would’ve been scoreless if that call was a strike.
LSU will aim to bounce back and finish the regular season strong. The Tigers play their last SEC series against Arkansas, starting on April 26 in Tiger Park.
