Softball Recap: Alabama’s Season Ends with a 6-4 Loss to LSU

After an excruciating 3-0 loss to Oklahoma Friday evening, the Alabama Crimson Tide lost their final game in the Women’s College World Series 6-4 to LSU.

The Tigers jumped ahead to an early 1-0 lead as first baseman Sandra Simmons launched a lead-off homer off Crimson Tide starter Sydney Littlejohn to open the game. LSU would load the bases but fail to add any more runs in the top of the first inning.

Alabama’s Haylie McCleney began the bottom of the first inning with a double. She advanced to third on a Demi Turner fly ball to right field but was stranded at third after a Leona Lafaele ground out and a Marissa Runyon strikeout.

In the top of the third inning, LSU catcher Kelsi Kloss extended their lead to 2-0 with an RBI ground out to second base.

In the bottom of the third, Lafaele put Alabama on the board with an RBI single to left field to cut the deficit to 2-1. In the very next at bat with the bases loaded, Runyon grounded into the first of two inning ending double plays for the Tide to kill their momentum.

In the top of the fourth inning, LSU exploded for four runs to build a 6-1 cushion. Designated player Sahvanna Jaquish highlighted the inning with a two-out two-run double.

Alabama responded two innings later with a three-run inning. Lafaele homered to left to begin the rally. Chandler Dare’s RBI single and a Kallie Case RBI off a fielding error would shrink LSU’s lead to 6-4. Haylie McCleney and Demi Turner came to the plate with the bases loaded but could not get any additional runs across to end the inning.

In their final at-bat, Runyon reached on a one-out single before Regan Dykes rolled into a game-ending double play ground ball.

For the game, Alabama left seven runners on base with six runners left in scoring position.

The loss marks the final game in the collegiate careers for Haylie McCleney, Leona Lafaele, Andrea Hawkins and Kallie Case.

While Alabama will lose key contributors in McCleney and Lafaele, the return of Alexis Osorio, Sydney Littlejohn and Madi Moore will provide the foundation for another run toward Oklahoma City.

The Crimson Tide concludes the 2016 season with a 51-14 record.