STARKVILLE, Miss. – Three home runs in game one carried the No. 8 LSU softball team to a 8-0 win in five innings in game one, and a 10th inning double by Lewis sealed an 8-4 victory in game two against No. 19 Mississippi State.
“This was a big double header for us. We especially got to see what we could do under pressure, and we came through,” said head coach Glenn Moore. “This was absolutely a great day for our hitters. They executed timely hits, and came through. Britni did a great job of staying with them and keeping them off balance. I am really pleased to get the second win, with the first being easier. To find a way to win as we did in the second game shows the real character of this team.”
In the top of the second of game one, LSU jumped ahead of the Bulldogs when pitcher Ashley Lewis hit a solo home run to left field off pitcher Courtney Frank.
The Tigers continued scoring in the third when designated player Auburne Ziober reached first and advanced to second on two errors by third baseman Michelle Gates. Ziober was then sent home when left fielder Dee Douglas singled to center field, putting LSU ahead 2-0. Shortstop Tara Asbill then hit a sacrifice fly to send home Douglas.
Second baseman Stephanie Hastings made it home on a single by first baseman Shaunte’ Fremin to wrap up the Tigers scoring for the inning. LSU pulled ahead 4-0.
Lewis did not give up a hit until the bottom of the third when first baseman Cheri Smith singled to put the first Bulldog on base.
Smith would not make it past second, however, with the Tiger defense retiring the side.
The Bulldogs threatened again in the fourth placing runners on with a base hit and an error, but the Dogs could not pass third base and remained scoreless.
Third baseman Ashlee Ducote singled to left center to set the stage for Fremin who hit her fourth home run of the season. Lewis then singled to right field and set the stage once again for a replay. Right fielder Trena Peel hit her second home run of the season to put the LSU up 8-0, with four of those runs in the fifth.
Lewis picked up her 14th win for the Tigers pitching four innings. She only gave up two hits and had one strikeout. Senior lefthander Julie Stashko relieved Lewis in the fifth and held MSU scoreless.
The Tiger bats combined for 11 hits off Bulldog pitchers Frank and Jennifer Nelson. Peel went 2-for-2, Fremin went 2-for-3 and Lewis went 2-for-3, with all three hitting a homer.
In the night cap, State scored first when center fielder Kellie Wilkerson doubled to right center and scored on a single by shortstop Karrie Rider.
LSU captured the lead in the third when Ziober and Douglas reached on fielder’s choices and Hastings picked up a base hit to load the bases for Ducote. Ducote singled to right field to send home Ziober and Douglas. Hastings scored on a throwing error by Wilkerson to put LSU up 3-1.
MSU answered back in the bottom of the inning with an unearned run by Rider to make the score 3-2.
Douglas doubled to right field to start the inning and scored on a double by Hastings to make the score 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh.
MSU would not let the game end without a fight as left fielder Kasey Whitehead hit a two run home run to left field to send the game into extra innings.
In the top of the tenth, Hastings was placed on second due to the tie breaker rule. She would score on a single by Fremin to put the Tigers back on top 5-4. Lewis doubled to left center to send home Docote, pinch runner Janell Deslattes and center fielder Stacey Newton to give the Tigers three more runs.
The Tigers would retire the first three batters of the MSU innings to seal the victory.
Sneed pitched all 10 innings for the Tigers, striking out 10 batter in all. She improved her record to 14-5.
The Tiger batters once again combined for 11 hits, this time off of Jennifer Pursell.
The two will meet on Saturday to conclude the series with a double header at 1 p.m.