Another tough weekend for the LSU softball team could be followed by one even tougher.
After falling for a second time by shutout to Alabama ace Montana Fouts, the Tigers close the season against second-place Georgia trying to stay in contention for a first-round NCAA tournament host site.
Although the loss dropped LSU (38-13, 11-10 Southeastern Conference) into sixth place in the SEC standings, the Tigers retained a strong RPI ranking the best in the conference at No. 7.
Taking two of three from the Bulldogs (38-10, 15-5) at Tiger Park in the season-ending series would bolster the Tigers’ chances.
The Tigers are certainly thankful to see Fouts graduate. The Alabama ace finished off LSU with her second shutout of the weekend on Sunday and third of her career against the Tigers to give Alabama the series victory. She improved her career record to 7-1 against LSU with 40 strikeouts and 11 runs allowed.
In two games against Fouts, LSU was held scoreless in 14 innings with seven hits and only nine baserunners. Fouts struck out 15 Tiger hitters and walked two. LSU is one game behind Alabama (12-8) in the league standings.
The Tigers played well in the series’ middle game with 10 hits, including three by McKenzie Redoutey, in a 6-1 victory. Redoutey drove in four runs and Ali Kilponen threw a two-hitter and faced only 25 batters. But the series was a repeat of the Auburn series in which LSU couldn’t handle another dominating pitcher, Maddie Penta.
Georgia presents the opposite problem. Averaging 6.5 runs per game, the Bulldogs are not only the SEC’s top hitting team with a .329 average, they lead the league in doubles (71), triples (15) and home runs (78).
The Bulldogs are middle of the pack in pitching and fielding with a respectable 2.16 earned run average and a .972 fielding percentage.
Georgia has won six consecutive games but had a conference bye this past weekend and hasn’t played since Wednesday.
Second baseman Sydney Kuma is Georgia’s leading hitter with a .397 average, and she also has good pop with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs. Outfielder Jayda Kearney is the top slugger with 18 home runs and 43 RBIs to go with a .388 average while third baseman Sara Mosley is the top run producer with 15 homers and 46 RBIs with a .344 average.
Shelby Walters and Madison Kerpics present a difficult twosome in the circle. Walters is 17-3 with a 1.30 earned run average and has shown pinpoint control with only 26 walks in 139 2/3 innings. She has six complete games but also is a top closer with six saves.
Kerpic is 16-5 with a 2.25 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 121 1/3 innings.
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