Alabama softball falls in extra innings to LSU in the first round of the SEC Tournament
A walk off single by Taylor Pleasants in the 14th inning gave LSU the 3-2 edge over Alabama softball in the first round of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Alabama.
The 14 innings played makes for the longest game in the history of the SEC Tournament, innings wise. There were 432 pitches thrown, with LSU only leading for 431 of them.
Alabama had its chances in extra innings to take the lead, leaving eight runners on base over the seven scoreless extra innings, but it was unable to do so as it saw itself fall in its opening round game in the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2022.
Alabama's offense finished the game with eight hits, Kali Heivilin, Kenleigh Cahalan and Abby Duchscherer each accounting for two, while Larissa Preuitt and Marlie Giles each added one. Kayla Beaver started in the circle for Alabama, pitching 6.0 innings, giving up two earned runs off of two hits while hitting a season-high three batters. Freshman Jocelyn Briski came on in relief for Beaver in the seventh inning to make her SEC Tournament debut. Briski struck out six batters, walked one and allowed eight hits and one run over 7 ⅓ innings.
LSU's Sydney Berzon pitched all 14 innings, giving up two runs off of eight hits while striking out five and walking six.
The Crimson Tide's two runs came in the top of the first inning. Cahalan drew a leadoff walk, followed by a Preuitt single to put Alabama runners on first and second with no outs. A sacrifice fly by Jenna Johnson put Cahalan and Preuitt in scoring position, followed by a two-run Heivilin single to bring both home and give Alabama the 2-0 lead.
LSU built a game-tying rally in the sixth inning. Beaver hit McKenzie Redoutey for LSU's first base runner of the inning with one out. Raeleen Gutierrez lined a single down the right field line, followed by a Pleasants walk to load the bases. Beaver struck out Ali Newland for the second out but walked two more batters in the inning — hitting one — to score two LSU runs.
Briski primarily held the LSU offense at bay across the first six extra innings, but ultimately allowed four hits in the 14th inning, including Pleasants' walk-off single, as LSU claimed victory.
LSU advances to play No. 1 seed Tennessee in the second round of the SEC Tournament at 10 a.m. CT Thursday, while Alabama's attention turns to the NCAA DI softball tournament selection show on Sunday night to find out their seeding.
SEC COACHES: SEC softball: Alabama, Florida, Texas A&M headline conference's highest-paid coaches
NICK SABAN COMMEMORATIVE BOOK: Relive Nick Saban’s epic Alabama football coaching career with our special book! Preorder here.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama softball: LSU defeats Alabama in first round of SEC Tournament
