April 21, 2008

Baton Rouge, LA (UWIRE) -- The LSU softball team's hopes for a Southeastern Conference series win were crushed again Sunday in Knoxville, Tenn.

The No. 14 Tigers dropped their rubber match against No. 11 Tennessee (43-9, 13-8), 5-4, following an 8-0 loss and an 8-2 win Saturday.

LSU (34-14, 12-10) held a one-run lead in the seventh inning and hoped to clinch their fifth SEC series win. But with two outs and runners on first and second, Tennessee catcher Shannon Doepking hit a walk-off, two-RBI double to right field off senior reliever Tiffany Garcia.

"We hoped we could seal the deal, but we couldn't," said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. "There was opportunity all around, but we left people stranded on base."

The Tigers have struggled in the conference, and Girouard previously blamed some of the trouble on pitching.

Junior Dani Hofer started Saturday's five-inning loss but was removed after giving up four runs on five batters. Garcia replaced her, allowing four runs on four hits with two walks.

Girouard said Hofer has a wrist injury, which has caused her to struggle. While an X-ray showed no problems, she said more extensive tests will be run.

"There's a lot more pressure because we know that there are more games to be pitched and tougher innings toward the end of the season," said sophomore pitcher Cody Trahan. "We just have to take over and give Hofer some rest, so she'll be ready for postseason."

Garcia also came into Sunday's game, pitching 2 2/3 innings before giving up the winning runs. She replaced Trahan, who allowed three runs on two hits in four innings.

Trahan recorded the complete-game win in the second contest Saturday. She allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and six walks.

"We tried to avoid [Tennessee third baseman Tonya] Callahan as much as we could," Trahan said. "We didn't want to give her the opportunity to take the game away."

The Tigers scored all of their runs in the third inning. Freshman left fielder Ashley Applegate and senior designated player Dee Dee Henderson walked, and senior second baseman Shannon Stein singled to third to load the bases.

With the count one ball and one strike, sophomore center fielder Rachel Mitchell hit a shot over the right center wall to notch four runs, the second grand slam of her career and third home run of the season.

"I was just waiting to crank it," Mitchell said of her grand slam ball. "I look for it inside so I can pull it to the right to score the runner, and it was the exact pitch I was looking to hit."

Senior catcher Killian Roessner then singled down the left field line, but her pinch runner, freshman Tiffany Shaw, was called out for leaving first early.

Seniors left fielder Quinlan Duhon, shortstop Tayl'r Hollis and first baseman Erika Sluss walked. After freshman third baseman Jessica Mouse popped out, Applegate took her second walk of the inning and scored Duhon.

Henderson walked again to score Hollis, and Stein doubled to right center, scoring Applegate and Sluss.

Girouard expressed frustration with LSU's previous losses but said she was much more pleased following Sunday's game despite the loss.

"They kind of snatched victory from us," she said. "We certainly outplayed them. I was very pleased with the fight in the team."

(C) 2008 The Daily Reveille via UWIRE