STARKVILLE, Miss. — The No. 8-ranked LSU softball team picked up two more wins off No. 19 Mississippi State on Saturday to sweep the four game series played in Starkville this weekend.
“This was a huge weekend to be able to come away with four wins for the weekend over a top 25 team,” said head coach Glenn Moore. “We played very well against a very good team.”
The Tigers captured the first game, 9-4, and concluded the weekend with 7-1 win in game two. LSU improved to 37-7 for the season and 13-1 in league play to lead the Southeastern Conference. MSU fell to 31- 15 for the season and 9-7 in the SEC.
In the first game, first baseman Shaunte’ Fremin hit a two run double to the right field line to start the scoring for the Tigers in the first inning.
In the bottom of the second, second baseman Michelle Gates hit a solo home run to right field to score the first run for Mississippi State, only the second homer that LSU pitcher Ashley Lewis has given up this year. Lewis only allowed one in 1999.
Going into the top of the third LSU led 2-1 when left fielder Dee Douglas doubled to center field to start the inning and scored on another double by shortstop Tara Asbill. Asbill was driven home when Fremin hit her second double of the game before Stacey Newton hit an RBI single to right center to send home Fremin for the Tigers’ fifth run of the ball game. Lewis then singled to left field to send Newton home for run number six.
LSU continued scoring in the fourth when Asbill hit her second double off the top of the right field fence to send home Douglas.
The Bulldogs threatened in the sixth when designated hitter Keri McCallum singled to start the inning. Robyn Schlagheck doubled to right center to put runners at second and third for center fielder Kellie Wilkerson who reached on an error, driving home McCallum. Karrie Rider then doubled to center field to send home Schlagheck, and Wilkerson scored on an error during the play.
The threat was answered by the Tigers in the top of the seventh when third baseman Ashlee Ducote picked up her first hit of the ball game to place runners at second and third. Newton hit a sacrifice fly to right field to send home Asbill. Lewis then came up with squeeze play to send home Ducote for the ninth Tiger run.
LSU would hold on to the 9-4 lead and clinch their third win of he weekend. The Tiger bats combined for nine hits, including five doubles. Fremin and Asbill each went 2- for-3 with each of their hits being doubles.
Lewis went six innings for the Tigers to pick up her 15th win. She only allowed two hits and fanned seven batters.
In the first inning of game two, second baseman Stephanie Hastings singled and scored on a triple by Ducote to put the Tigers ahead early.
Douglas started the scoring for LSU in the third when she and Hastings out-smarted the second baseman who could not make a play. Hastings then scored when Ducote singled to left field and scored on Fremin third double of the day. Newton sent home the last run of the inning when she singled to center to send home Fremin for a 5-0 LSU lead.
The Bulldogs scored a solo run in the fifth when Schlagheck made it home on a single by Jennifer Hehnke. The Tigers then got out of a jam by retiring the inning leaving the three runners left on base.
Asbill hit her eighth home run of the season in the top of the seventh, giving her 23 homers for her career and putting her four ahead of Ducote who has 19. Pinch runner Janell Deslattes then made it home when Newton hit her first triple of the year for the Tigers.
The Tigers led 7-1 going into the bottom of the seventh and held on to sweep the series.
LSU had 11 hits with Fremin and Ziober going 2-for-3. Fremin’s two hits were doubles, giving her four for the day.
Sneed picked up her 15th win for the Tigers, pitching seven innings and striking out five.
LSU will face Louisiana Tech in a double header on April 11 at Tiger Park beginning at 5 p.m.