LAKE CHARLES, La. — The LSU softball team improved its record to 7-1 with two wins over McNeese State, 3-1 and 4-0, Wednesday afternoon at the Cowgirl Diamond in Lake Charles.
“The girls played well tonight,” said head coach Yvette Girouard. “Our pitchers really did a phenomenal job with the defense backing them up when needed. The hitters also key hits that scored runs. I am most proud of the fact that different people stepped up and helped us win the game.”
LSU pulled ahead 2-0 in the top of the first inning of game one. Senior shortstop Stephanie Hastings doubled to right center to send home senior left fielder Dee Douglas. Hastings later scored on a single by desinganter hitter Erin Johnson.
Cowgirls pitcher Ashleigh Ivey broke up Tiger pitcher Britni Sneed’s perfect game with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score within one. Ivey would walk in Douglas in the top of the seventh to give the Tigers an insurance run.
Sneed went seven innings for LSU only giving up one hit with no walks. She struck out 11 batters in the process to pick up the win and improve her record to 4-1. The Tiger batters had six hits off Ivey who had two strikeouts and five walks.
Catcher Jennie Reeves tripled to right field to send home third baseman Julie Wiese and start the scoring for the Tigers in game two. Douglas singled to send Reeves across the plate later in the inning and put LSU up 2-0.
Second baseman Jill Crawford scored first in the top of the fourth inning when freshman right fielder Sara Fitzgerald singled to left field. A wild pitch by Cowgirl pitcher Corrie Hale allowed Fitgerald to cross the plate and bring the score to 4-0.
Pitcher Ashley Lewis picked up her second win and first shutout of the season for the Tigers, going five innings with three hits and seven strikeouts. The Tiger bats had six hits off Hale who had two strikeouts.
The LSU softball team will open its home season on Monday, Feb. 19 with a double header against East Tennessee State at 5:30 p.m.