LAKE CHARLES- An early Tiger lead and missed opportunities caused McNeese softball to fall 7-1 to #21 LSU Tuesday night at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond in front of a crowd of 1,150, the second largest crowd in Cowgirl Diamond history.
LSU improved to 28-16 on the season while McNeese dropped to 26-17.
"I thought pitcher Ashley Vallejo had a good performance. The score doesn't represent how well she pitched," said head coach James Landreneau. "Vallejo gave us the chance to get on and off the field quickly. We were able to get traffic on base, but couldn't get timely hits to score runs."
The Tigers took an early 2-0 lead in the opening frame with the first run scoring off a fielder's choice. An infield RBI single allowed LSU to take a 2-0 lead, however, pitcher Ashley Vallejo diffused the threat with a strikeout to close the inning.
LSU added four more runs in the fifth inning for a 6-0 lead. Two consecutive hits set the Tigers up for a three-run homer by Taylor Pleasants. The final run of the inning for the Tigers came off an RBI double to right field by Shelbi Sunseri.
The bottom of the sixth inning was opened by leadoff hitter Kaylee Lopez smacking her first home run of the season to put McNeese on the scoreboard for its only run of the game to avoid the shutout
LSU responded when Pleasants hit her second home run of the game to put the Tigers up 7-1.
Key Moments:
First Inning
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A Tiger RBI fielder's choice scored the first run of the game (LSU 1, McN 0)
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LSU tacked on an additional run with a RBI single (LSU 2, McN 0)
Fifth Inning
Sixth Inning
Seventh Inning
Game Notes:
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Pitcher Vallejo (10-7) absorbed the loss, allowing seven run on six hits with four strikeouts
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Lopez led the Cowgirls at the plate with two hits including a solo home run for the only Cowgirl run of the game
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The Cowgirls had seven hits while the Tigers had nine hits
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McNeese left nine baserunners stranded including four in scoring position
Next Game:
The Cowgirls will travel to Beaumont, Texas for a 5 p.m. single game at Lamar Friday, April 22. The following day, Saturday April 23, the two teams will play a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond.