LSU softball traveled to Clearwater, FL to play five games in five days. The No. 12 Tigers went 1-4 from Thursday to Sunday and returned to Baton Rouge with a 7-4 record.
Three of LSU's losses came against ranked opponents. It was outscored 24-4 in the four losses. Head coach Beth Torina used five different pitchers, including four in the weekend finale against No. 6 UCLA on Sunday.
In their opening game Thursday against No. 11 Nebraska, the Tigers were shut out 6-0. They got on base nine times and got runners to third base twice, but couldn't bring them home. Jayden Heavener got the start in the circle but gave up five runs on four hits. Only one of those runs was earned.
LSU got its lone win of the five-game stretch Thursday afternoon against Oklahoma State, a 9-4 decision. The Tigers scored four runs in the third and seventh innings, then weathered a final push from the Cowgirls at the end. Sierra Daniel and Tori Edwards each had three hits.
The Tigers went back and forth with Duke on Friday but ultimately fell 5-3. The Blue Devils went up by three in the second inning before LSU made it close in the fourth. For the final three frames, Heavener and Cassidy Curd were locked in a pitchers' duel.
LSU dropped the final two contests of the weekend. It fell 5-1 on Saturday to UCF, scoring its lone run in the first inning. Despite totaling eight hits, the Tigers struggled to get runners around to score. Sunday against the Bruins, LSU mustered three hits against reigning All-American pitcher Taylor Tinsley.
LSU returns to Baton Rouge to host South Alabama on Tuesday before a three-game set in Tiger Park over the weekend.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU softball has disastrous weekend in Florida, struggles continue