Senior righthander Paytn Monticelli stifled Auburn with a four-hit shutout and center fielder Jalia Lassiter got the “save” as No. 20 LSU took the first game of this weekend’s three-game series, 3-0, at Tiger Park Thursday.
Monticelli, who might be the hottest pitcher in the SEC, won her fifth consecutive decision with her first shutout of the season and second of her career. She struck out a season-high nine batters and walked two, but it all could have gone for naught if not for Lassiter’s fine defensive play to rob Auburn infielder Annalea Adams of a two-run homer with a catch against the wall.
“I felt super confident in my stuff. I really do trust my defense,” Monticelli said. “It’s easy to be confident when you are surrounded by confident people.
“Jalia’s confident in the outfield and her catch was just remarkable. I have seen a lot of great things in my college career and that ranks in the top two and it’s not (No.) 2.”
The Tigers (35-16, 11-11 in SEC play) scored all of their runs in the second inning but couldn’t widen the lead against starter Ella Harrison (11-13). Auburn made a bid when former LSU Tiger McKaela Walker doubled to lead off the sixth, bringing up Adams. She hit a high fly to straightaway center field. Lassiter retreated, reached back to feel the wall and timed her leap perfectly.
Walker tagged and easily advanced to third but was cut down at the plate on the next play. Haven Roebuck hit a grounder to second baseman Sierra Daniel, who got rid of the ball quickly with an accurate throw to catcher Maci Bergeron to keep the shutout intact.
“I just had to go get it,” Lassiter said. “I practice it every day and people don’t see the practice work I put in. It was a matter of time before I made one in a game. You have to know your surroundings. I’ve taken that rep multiple times. I know how to get to the wall and find it and it’s just timing it up.”
Lassiter had two of LSU’s six hits, including a run-scoring single in the three-run second inning. A throwing error by Auburn third baseman Roebuck after a bunt by Avery Hodge allowed the first run to score. Lassiter singled to shortstop for another run and Alix Franklin’s fielder’s choice grounder scored the other.
Monticelli (8-5) allowed only two runners past second base and threw 82 strikes among her 115 pitches. It was her third complete game this season on her first series-opening start.
“She was really good, it was a great matchup for her, one of her best performances as Tiger,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “She’s been really good, thrown the best for a couple of weeks and she was a great matchup for them. I felt good about it.
“She threw a lot of rise balls. She was able to change speeds, locate well, and got some great defense from Jalia. It was an incredible game-changing play. It’s a different ball game if that ball is over the fence. They work hard on that play all the time.”
The game was delayed multiple times and finally started at 7:45 p.m. The teams are scheduled to play at 6 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday, with more heavy rain forecast for Friday.
