BATON ROUGE — Friday night at Tiger Park, LSU rode the pitching of Britni Sneed, who held Arkansas to only one run, to pick up the 3-1 win in game one of the doubleheader. Two home runs by Ashlee Ducote and Tara Asbill led the Tigers to a 7-0 shutout in game two.
“It was a good start. I would like to see our hitters challenge more tomorrow early on,” said head coach Glenn Moore. “I would like to see us hit better with runners in scoring position. This is a great Arkansas team, and our hitters as well as our pitchers performed well. I am pleased, but we have to stay focused, or Arkansas will capitalize on it.”
The Tigers set a new school record for most team home runs in a season by hitting three home runs against the Razorbacks. LSU now has 32 homers this year.
Arkansas took the lead early in the third with a single RBI by third baseman Brett Erickson.
But LSU answered back in the bottom of the fourth with a two run home run by designated hitter Ashley Lewis to put the Tigers up 2-1. The homer by Lewis matched an LSU record for team home runs at 30.
Trena Peel singled in a third run for the Tigers in the bottom of the sixth, with Ducote coming across the plate after reaching on a fielder’s choice.
The Tigers would hold on to the 3-1 lead to capture game one of the doubleheader. LSU had seven hits off pitcher Rachel Talley. Trena Peel was 3-for-3 at the plate with one RBI. Ashley Lewis was 2-for-3 with two RBI, hitting her third home run of the season.
Sneed is now 19-5 after pitching seven innings for the Tigers and only allowing one hit. She fanned eight batters and walked one.
The Tigers took the lead early in game two when Ashlee Ducote hit a three-run home run to left field, her ninth of the season. Second baseman Stephanie Hastings got the RBI in the second with sacrifice bunt that sent Peel across the plate, putting LSU up 4-0.
LSU sent one more across the plate in the bottom of the sixth on an error by the shortstop Tiffany Woolley. Tara Asbill then got her first hit of the night with a two run home run in the bottom of the sixth.
LSU had nine hits in game two with Peel going 5-for-6 on the night. Ducote’s home run broke the team record for most home runs in a season. Including Asbill’s homer, LSU has 32 for the season as a team.
Lewis pitched six innings for the Tigers, striking out six and walking one. Lewis only gave up three hits. Julie Stashko only allowed one hit and ended the game for the Tigers.
LSU will face Arkansas in a double header Saturday at 1p.m. The games will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Network (107.3 FM).