The Cats entered the postseason with high hopes after coming off a regular season that saw No. 11 UK softball win the most games in program history with a 43-11 record. The team however, fell flat in its first postseason appearance at the SEC Tournament in Starkville, Mississippi, falling to the No. 13 LSU Tigers 3-1.

The game was a defensive battle for the first four innings, as both teams were held scoreless and combined for only three hits heading into the fifth inning.

Following a ground out to start the top of the inning, the Tigers came up with back-to-back singles to put two runners on base, which was the more than either team had been able to do up to that point in the game.

The Tigers then took advantage of the opportunity when Sandra Simmons stepped up to the plate for LSU and belted a three-run homer over the right field wall to give the Tigers the lead.

Unfortunately for UK, the game would go back to the defensive look from the first four innings for the rest of the game and the Cats would not be able to overcome the fifth inning outburst from the Tigers.

UK did get on the board in the seventh inning when a double from freshman Katie Reed brought in Maisie Steed for the only score of the day for the Cats.

With the loss, UK can now look to the NCAA Softball Selection Show on Sunday for its NCAA tournament fate.

The Cats come in with an impressive resume for the committee to consider. Along with the school record for wins, UK also led the nation in road wins with a 20-3 record outside of Lexington and finished second in the SEC, and is arguably the best softball conference in the country.

Even with the loss in its first game in the SEC Tournament, the Cats look poised for success on the national stage in the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Softball Selection Show can be watched on ESPNU at 10 p.m. Sunday.