BATON ROUGE — LSU second baseman Stephanie Hastings drove in three runs and pitcher Britni Sneed struck out nine to lead the seventh-ranked Tiger softball team to a 4-0 triumph over Ohio State Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the season-opening Tiger Classic at Tiger Park.
The Tigers open the season with a 5-0 record going into its first road tournament at Texas beginning on Friday. In the five games, the Tigers outscored the opposition, 25-0.
LSU advanced to the finals with a 5-0 morning victory over McNeese State as sophomore Trena Peel picked up her first career LSU pitching victory. Ohio State (3-2) made it through with an 8-2 decision over Nicholls State and in the game for third place, Nicholls State (2-5) beat McNeese State (0-5), 4-3.
In the championship game, LSU broke through the scoreless pitching of OSU’s Kristi Martin in the third inning as Hastings came through with a two-out base-hit scoring the speedy Dee Douglas, who had doubled in the previous at-bat for a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers got all the runs it would need in the fifth and it was the junior from Houston doing the damage again. With one out Shaunte’ Fremin doubled to left center and Stacy Newton followed with a single of her own. After Douglas reached on a bunt single, the bases were loading, setting the table for Hastings. She delivered a single to left field driving in pinch runner Taryn Perry and Newton to make it 3-0.
The Tigers final run came in the sixth when Ashlee Ducote led off with her 14th career home run at LSU, two off the school record of 16 by Tyra Perry.
Sneed allowed just one hit in six innings in picking up her second win of the season.
“I felt like we did what we were supposed to do,” said LSU softball coach Glenn Moore. “We came out and played up to our standards. We have a good idea of where we are and there is tough competition ahead for us the next four weekends. The biggest thing is we found out we have a very mature ball club.”
In LSU’s semifinal victory, Peel picked up her first LSU pitching win after making her debut in the circle on Saturday. Peel pitched five innings, striking out three against McNeese State, allowing just one hit and one walk. Left fielder Dee Douglas relieved her for the final two innings, making her LSU pitching debut.
“To have Dee and Trena come out and pitch as well as they did give us added confidence in what our bull pen can do for us this season,” said Moore.
Hastings again was the big star, driving in two runs on a two-run home run in the third inning, scoring Douglas in front of her to give LSU a 3-0 lead over the Cowgirls.
Tara Asbill, Ashlee Ducote and Megann Steege also had RBI in the semifinal contest.
The Tigers next return home to Tiger Park for the Purple and Gold Challenge, Feb. 25-27.
SUNDAY’S LINESCORES
GAME 1
McNeese State 000 000 0 — 0 1 3
LSU 012 020 x — 5 7 2
Ivy Richardson and Katie Trout. Trena Peel, Dee Douglas (6) and Jennie Reeves. WP — Peel (1-0); LP — Richardson. LOB — McNeese 4, LSU 6. 2B — Underhill; Ducote. 3B — Ducote. HR — Hastings. Team Records — LSU 4-0; McNeese State 0-4. Time — 1:35. Att — 227.
GAME 2
Nicholls State 000 020 0 — 2 6 3
Ohio State 103 040 x — 8 8 1
Wendi Scott, Kayci Keller (3) and Nicole Stewart. Katie Chain and Stacey Roth, Renee Spanos. WP — Chain 1-1. LP — Scott. LPB — Nicholls State 5, Ohio State 5. 2B — English; Roth. SB — Smith 2, Fowler. Team Records — Nicholls State 1-5; Ohio State 3-1. Time — 1:46. Att — 142.
GAME 3
Ohio State 000 000 0 — 0 2 0
LSU 001 021 x — 4 8 1
Toni Hileman, Kristi Martin (1) and Stacey Roth. Britni Sneed, Ashley Lewis (1) and Jennifer Schuelke, Jennie Reeves. WP — Sneed (2-0). LP — Martin (1-1). LOB — Ohio State 2, LSU 3. 2B — Douglas, Ducote, Fremin. HR — Ducote. Team Records — Ohio State 3-2; LSU 5-0. Time — 1:40. Att. — 203.
GAME 4
Nicholls State 004 000 0 — 4 4 2
McNeese State 000 012 0 — 3 6 3
Wendi Scott and Nicole Stewart, Stacy O’Neil. Crystal Bolyard, Kelly Meche (4) and Katie Trout. LOB — Nicholls State 8, McNeese State 5. 2B — Paray; 3B — Underhill. SB — Manuel 2; Celestine. Team Records — Nicholls State 2-5; McNeese State 0-5. Time — 1:56. Att — 114.