May 12, 2007

AUBURN, Ala. - LSU and Florida went eight innings without scoring a run at the SEC Tournament Championship Game Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field. Then in the ninth, the Tigers decided the game with just two swings of the bat.

Rachel Mitchell and Leslie Klein reached on consecutive doubles in the top of the ninth to lead second-seeded LSU to the SEC Tournament title with a 1-0 victory over fourth-seeded Florida. The victory gave the Tigers their fifth SEC Tournament title in eight tries.

Mitchell, who was named to the SEC All-Tournament team, began the inning with a shot off the top of the left field wall and narrowly beat the throw by left fielder Corrie Brooks at second. Klein, who also earned All-Tournament honors, drove in the game's only run with a line drive to the right center field gap off Florida starter Stacey Nelson.

Nelson worked a full nine innings for the Gators, who dropped to 46-20 this season after finishing the tournament with a 2-1 record. Nelson struck out nine, scattering five hits and a run and earned All-Tournament status. Nelson dropped to 30-13 this season.

Dani Hofer, who was named the SEC Tournament's Most Valuable Player, shut down the Florida offense after coming on in relief in the fifth. She worked 4 2/3 innings, striking out nine and walking one. She allowed just one hit to improve to 2-0 over the three-day tournament. Overall this season, Hofer is 23-2.

Emily Turner started for LSU (52-10 overall) and went 4 1/3 innings before being replaced by Hofer in the fifth. Turner scattered four hits and four walks while striking out five.

Saturday's paid attendance was announced as 798, giving the three-day, single-elimination tournament a total of 3,307 fans. The four tournament sessions averaged 826 fans each.