May 6, 2011
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A tight game throughout, No. 21/23 LSU (36-15, 17-9 SEC) held on in the end to take a 3-2 victory over South Carolina (26-28, 6-20 SEC) on Friday evening at Tiger Park.
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to Anissa Young’s two-run homer to center. That scored Simone Heyward after her walk to start the frame. LSU tacked on the third run in the second when Ashley Langoni hit a hot shot that deflected into left field, scoring Heyward from second.
South Carolina started to fight back in the fifth. Senior catcher P.J. Fulmer started the inning with a walk and gave way to pinch runner Jackie Slawson. After a batters’ interference call, junior centerfielder Lauren Lackey singled, putting two runners aboard for senior designated player Laura Mendes. She came through with a single to center, plating Slawson to cut the lead to two.
The Gamecocks halved the lead in the sixth. Junior first baseman Molly Brossart got a one-out single before pinch runner Kylie Morin came on for her. Morin moved to second on a passed ball and raced to third after the throw to second got into center field. Freshman second baseman Dana Hathorn stepped up and hit one deep to left, where Langoni made a leaping catch to record the out, but Morin scored on the play to make it 3-2.
Fulmer gave the Gamecocks a chance in the seventh, leading off the frame with a double. Sophomore rightfielder Hannah Milks followed against LSU reliever Rachele Fico and looked to have lined a ball off the Tiger first baseman’s glove. But the home plate umpire called the ball foul, continuing the at bat. Milks fought before eventually falling on strikes after an 11-pitch at bat. Fico fought through the next two batters, getting an infield pop and a groundout to collect the save.
LSU starter Brittany Mack (17-5) got the win, allowing two runs, one earned on five hits and three walks. She struck out six. Gamecock redshirt sophomore Audrey Broyles (6-10) took the loss, giving up two earned runs on three walks and two hits. Senior April Borchardt kept South Carolina in the game, as the Tigers had one earned run on two walks and four hits in 5.1 innings against her.
Langoni and Lauren Houston had two hits each for the Tigers. Heyward scored twice and drew two walks. Fulmer reached twice and had the double, while Mendes was on all three times, collecting the RBI single. Three other Gamecocks had singles.
The Gamecocks and Tigers go back at it on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CDT at Tiger Park.
