No. 10 Aggies drop game two of SEC series opener against No. 4 LSU
The Aggie defense was put to the test early on Saturday, when the Tigers fought to put two across in the second inning, taking the lead.
Bailey Landry stepped to the plate with the Tigers' third baseman, Sahvanna Jaquish, on at second and catcher, Kellsi Kloss, on at third. Landry singled, then advanced to second, while Jaquish scored LSU's first run. The second and final run of the frame came when Elyse Thornhill's sacrifice fly sent Kloss home.
The Tigers wasted no time adding another run to the board in the next inning after the shortstop, Bianka Bell, knocked her seventh home run of the season into center.
A&M was able to score one in the third after Keeli Milligan reached on a throwing error made by the LSU pitcher Allie Walljasper. Milligan was quickly driven in on Kaitlyn Alderink's sacrifice fly. LSU responded in the top of the fourth after Shemiah Sanchez doubled to left field to score Thornhill from second base. With the bases loaded, Bianka Bell reached on a fielder’s choice to plate Sanchez, adding one more the Tigers lead. Unfortunately, the Aggies came up empty-handed in the bottom of the fourth.
The Tigers next run came when Landry doubled to right center, and was brought home on a Thornhill single to center field. The RBI brought the game to its final score of 6-1.
The Aggies were given a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fifth after Milligan reached on a bunt, then stole her 32nd base of the year to get in scoring position. Cali Lanphear was able to reach on a fielding error by the Tigers first basemen, Sandra Simmons, which put runners on the corners. The Aggies were unable to capitalize.
Trailing by five in the bottom of the seventh, A&M was looking for anything it could get. Unfortunately, like they had many times before, the Aggies were unable to score in the inning.
Samantha Show started off in the circle for the Aggies, until senior Katie Marks stepped in as relief in the third. She would allow 6 hits and 4 runs on 100 pitches.
The Aggies will face the Tigers one more time this weekend on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at the Aggie Softball Complex with hopes of taking the series.
