Changes can’t help Alabama in softball world series

Following a loss to open the Women’s College World Series, Alabama coach Patrick Murphy made several changes to his lineup prior to Saturday’s elimination matchup against LSU.

What he couldn’t change was Alabama’s luck.

The Crimson Tide fell 6-4 to LSU, ending its run in the WCWS after two games. No. 6 seed Alabama (51-14) lost 3-0 to Oklahoma in eight innings on Friday to set up the elimination game with the Tigers. LSU (51-17) will play the loser of Auburn vs. Georgia on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

“You are just trying to figure out who might get hot,” Murphy said. “Instead of waiting for them to get hot, you kind of force them to get hot.”

Murphy started No. 2 starter Sydney Littlejohn in the circle over a tired Alexis Osorio. He also switched around his lineup, moving Demi Turner to the No. 2 hole and substituting Marisa Runyon for struggling cleanup hitter Peyton Grantham.

After five listless innings, the Alabama offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth. Down 6-1, Leona Lafaele got the Tide started with a leadoff home run. After the next two runners reached base, Chandler Dare delivered an RBI single to right center. An infield single from Andrea Hawkins then loaded the bases for Sydney Booker.

That’s when the Tide’s luck began to run out.

Booker lined a ball off of LSU third baseman Bianka Bell’s glove which shortstop Amber Serrett picked up and threw to home for a force out. The Tide would get another run, as Kallie Case reached on an error by LSU second baseman Constance Quinn.

However, the top two hitters in Alabama’s lineup were unable to come through, as Haylie McCleney reached on a fielder’s choice out at home before Turner grounded out to third to end the inning.

“If we get one more hit in the bottom of the sixth ... it’s a different story,” Murphy said.

The Tide brought the tying run to the plate again with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Reagan Dykes grounded into a a double play to end the game.

LSU has now eliminated Alabama in the WCWS for the second straight season. The Tide fell to the Tigers 5-3 during last season’s tournament.

“You can’t say this team didn’t fight,” McCleney said. “You don’t have to win a championship to be a champion. I’m sitting up here with three champions, and I got 18 champions in that locker room.”

LSU started the game with a bang, as leadoff hitter Sandra Simmons delivered a solo home run to right on the fifth pitch of the game. The play was the second straight home run the Tide had given up after surrendering a game-winning home run to Oklahoma’s Shay Knighten on Friday.

“I don’t go out there and try to hit home runs,” Simmons said. “I was just in there trying to find a way on for my team, especially in that spot. I was just trying to square the ball up for my team.”

LSU scored another tun in the top of the third before chasing Littlejohn out of the game with a four-run inning in the top of the fourth to blow the game open at 6-1.

Carley Hoover (21-8) earned the win for LSU, giving up four runs, three earned on seven hits and two walks while striking out two batters over five innings.

Littlejohn (23-7) took the loss for Alabama, giving up four earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out a batter over 4 2/3 innings.

Simmons led LSU at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Bailey Landry and Sahvanna Jaquish both had two hits apiece for the Tigers.

McCleney ended her final game in a Crimson Tide jersey, going 2-for-3 with two doubles. Leona Lafaele also had a big day for Alabama, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.

This story was originally published June 4, 2016 at 7:55 PM with the headline "Changes can’t help Alabama in softball world series."