No. 19 LSU Shuts Down Falcon Offense

Friday, February 11

Baton Rouge, LA

6:30 pm

Bowling Green State University

#19 LSU

February 11, 2011 | Softball

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Boxscore

Baton Rouge, La. – No. 19 LSU held the Bowling Green State University softball team to just one hit and the Tigers defeated BGSU 5-0 Friday evening to complete the opening day of the LSU Tiger Classic.

LSU struck against BG pitcher Melissa Bott for three runs in the first but the Tigers were unable to solve Bowling Green's pitching and defense until scoring a pair of insurance runs in the fifth.

LSU scored those three first-inning runs on three hits and an error, using a leadoff single to put the pressure on the Falcon defense immediately. Simone Heyward stole second after that leadoff hit and eventually scored on a pair of groundouts. A single and a walk put two more runners on and LSU added two more runs on a fielding error and an RBI single.

Bowling Green threatened in the third on Abby Hanson's leadoff walk. She moved up to second on a two-out Hannah Fulk single, the only BG hit of the game, but a groundout to second ended the inning.

The Falcons never put a runner in scoring position again but LSU added two runs in the fifth on back-to-back doubles. That was all the offense the Tigers needed.

Despite two losses on the day, including a 4-1 loss to Louisiana Tech to open the 2011 season, Bowling Green head coach Shannon Salsburg was pleased with the team's effort.

“We played fantastic defense, made some great pitching adjustments today, and utilized a lot of players,” Salsburg said. “We just have to get our offense going. It's just going to take one inning to get things going. We're excited to make that happen.”

Bott went 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and three earned runs. Zada Lines came on to pitch the final 1 1/3 innings, giving up no hits and just one walk.

Bowling Green falls to 0-2 but will have a chance to avenge both losses Saturday with rematches against Louisiana Tech and LSU on day two of the LSU Tiger Classic.