BATON ROUGE — The No. 7 LSU softball team broke a team record of 25 shutouts with a 4-0 shutout in game one against the Lady Vols of Tennessee for its 26th shutout of the season. The Lady Vols broke a 36 scoreless innings streak for the Tigers in game two with two runs but could not top LSU which won 8-2.
The Tigers improve to a 51-8 record and 24-2 in the Southeastern Conference. LSU remains on top of the SEC with Alabama trailing by one with a 23-3 record.
“This was a good contribution of the senior class and a good way for them to go out winning two games against Tennessee,” said head coach Glenn Moore. “It is a sad occasion to see them go, but they have done so much for the program.”
The Tigers took the lead early in game one when Dee Douglas singled to reach first and made it to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. Douglas made it to third on a ground out and then stole home when Tara Asbill was walked.
In the second inning, Stacey Newton singled to center field, and Asbill picked up the RBI on a ground out.
In the fourth, Newton made it to first on an error by the first baseman and later scored a second time on a ground out by Stephanie Hastings to make the score 3-0.
Shaunte’ Fremin doubled to left field, and the Tigers added another run in the fifth when pinch runner Taryn Perry scored on a fielder’s choice.
LSU held on for its 26th shutout of the year with the 4-0 win. Pitcher Britni Sneed picked up her 22nd win of the season. She only allowed two hits and struck out seven. Senior Julie Stashko relieved her in the seventh, only allowing one hit and walking one.
Dee Douglas was 2-for-3 as the Tiger bats combined for six hits off pitcher Jackie Beavers. Beavers allowed six hits, walked four and struck out one.
Once again in game two, LSU took an early lead when Fremin singled to right field to send home Hastings. Pitcher Ashley Lewis then singled to right field to send home Ashlee Ducote and Fremin. Trena Peel stepped to the plate next and singled in Newton for run number four of the inning.
The Tigers led the second inning off with back-to-back doubles by Hastings and Asbill. Hastings scored on a sacrifice fly by Fremin. Newton singled to center field and scored Asbill and Ducote to put LSU up 7-0.
Ducote picked up an RBI when she singled home Asbill in the third for the eighth run of the game.
Tennessee broke a Tigers streak of 36.2 scoreless innings in the fourth when first baseman Maria Torres doubled to right center to send home April Phillips and Maura Mollet for two.
LSU would hold on for the win with Stashko picking up her ninth win of the season. She allowed four hits. Lewis pitched the first three innings with no hits, no walks and striking out three.
LSU combined for 10 hits off pitchers Stephanie Humphrey and Nicole Murray. Hastings went 2-for-4. Hastings and Asbill each had a double.