Errors Add Up in Alabama Softball's 6-1 Loss to LSU

The Tigers even up the series after Alabama couldn't recover from a bad first inning.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Less than 24 hours after looking like Alabama softball was finally starting to put things together, Saturday’s scene at Rhoads was all too familiar.

Errors compounded, the offense struggled to get hits and the pitchers behind Montana Fouts had trouble retiring batters. LSU jumped out to an early lead and never let up on the way to a 6-1 victory to even up the series with Alabama.

LSU’s first batter of the game set down a perfect bunt in front of home plate, and Alabama catcher Ally Shipman overshot her throw down the first base line, allowing Danieca Coffey to reach third base. The next batter lined one out to left field. The hit was officially ruled a double, but could’ve easily been the second error in a row on the Crimson Tide after Jenna Johnson misread the ball in left, causing it to bounce off her glove.

"It just snowballed from there," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said after the loss. "They [LSU] played well in all three phases of the game. Kilponen pitched great. They played great defense, and then they got 10 hits to our two. So it's really easy to see why they won."

The inning spiraled into a four-run inning with three more hits after the double off of starting pitcher Lauren Esman, and the Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Jaala Torrence came in to relieve Esman before the first inning was over. The final line for Esman was five hits, four runs (all earned) in 0.2 innings pitched. 

Alabama went down on exactly three pitches in the bottom of the first inning. Ashley Prange reached with one of Alabama’s two hits in the game, but was erased on a double play off the bat of Kenleigh Cahalan.

The Crimson Tide’s lone run came on a solo home run from Bailey Dowling in the fourth inning, but at that point it was already too little, too late as the Tigers had added on two runs to their lead in the fourth.

"There wasn't much fightback," Murphy said. "Because we got a hit in the first inning, and then right away a double play. And then Dowling hits the home run, and that's it. There's got to be more offense."

Ali Kilponen gets the complete game win for LSU, allowing just two hits and one earned run over seven innings. Esman got the loss in the circle. Torrence threw 3.2 innings in relief for the Crimson Tide, allowing two earned runs on four hits. Alex Salter came in the fifth inning, and only allowed one hit and no earned runs over 2.2 innings.

Alabama will be back at Rhoads for the series finale against LSU Sunday at 11:30 a.m., looking to avoid its third home SEC series loss. Fouts will likely be back in the circle for the Crimson Tide in the final home game of the regular season. 

How it happened...

Scouting Alabama

Game notes courtesy of Alabama Athletics

• Alabama is back at home this weekend, hosting LSU for three games at Rhoads Stadium starting Friday, April 28
• Saturday's game will air live on ESPN2 with Sunday's finale on ESPN
• This weekend is the Crimson Tide's final SEC home series of the regular season, heading to Ole Miss the following weekend before starting postseason play at the SEC Softball Tournament in Fayetteville, Ark.
• Last time out, Alabama won its series opener against Auburn, 6-1, before dropping the next two games, 5-1 and 3-1, as the Tigers took the series
• Murphy is in his 25th season as head coach at Alabama with a 1,227-348 (.779) record
• Alabama returns 11 players from last year's team, including All-SEC honorees Montana Fouts, Ashley Prange, Ally Shipman and Bailey Dowling, while also welcoming five freshmen and three transfers

Inside the Series

· Overall vs. LSU: 42-45

o In Tuscaloosa: 22-13 | In Baton Rouge: 12-25 | At Neutral Sites: 8-7

· Current Streak: Alabama +2

· Last Meeting: April 28, 2023 - Tuscaloosa, Ala. - W, 4-0