Softball Battles Back but Comes up Short in Series Opener

The Alabama softball team battled back to push the series opener against LSU to extra innings but fell in the eighth, 3-2, Thursday night at Tiger Park. After the day the Crimson Tide moves to 40-8 overall and 12-7 in Southeastern Conference play.

Sandra Simmons provided the heroics for the Tigers (38-11, 13-6 SEC) with a bases loaded line drive that barely snuck under the glove of a diving Danae Hays to end the game in the eighth.

Down to its final out and trailing by two runs the Tide rallied in the seventh to even the score. Back-to-back bases loaded walks to freshman Andrea Hawkins and senior Kayla Braud got Alabama back into the contest.

The Tide had its chances to take the lead as the seventh was ended when LSU pitcher Rachele Fico snared a Haylie McCleney liner that would have scored two. Then in the eighth, Alabama loaded the bases but couldn’t push through.

Fico (23-9) earned the win for LSU, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out two. Jackie Traina (17-5) was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out three.

The extra inning loss for Alabama was the third in its last four games against LSU at Tiger Park. It was just the second extra inning game of the season for the Tide.

The two teams will return to the field for game two of the series for a Friday night affair at Tiger Park. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. CT.