ATHENS, Ga. — The seventh-ranked LSU Tiger softball team fought brutal winds on Sunday in Athens to complete a three game sweep with a 3-0 shutout of the Georgia Bulldogs.
“I thought we handled the conditions today admirably,” said head coach Yvette Girouard. “This was a tough day to play softball with the strong winds and with other factors. Once again, Britni did a great job. This was a good way to end the road trip. We have to get ready for a crucial week ahead of us, but thankfully we are at home in Tiger Park.”
LSU improves to 30-6 on the season and 10-2 in the SEC. Georgia falls to 20-22 overall and 2-14 in the SEC. With the three game sweep, the Tigers lead the all-time series with Georgia 12-0.
The Tigers scored first in the top of the third inning when Christy Connor singled with the bases loaded to send freshman Sara Fitzgerald across the plate. LSU threatened again in the fifth inning with runners on first and third and a ball hit long to the left field fence, but the runner at first was called for leaving base early to end the inning and nullify the hit.
Stephanie Hastings extended her hitting streak to 12 games as she singled to put runners on first and second as Julie Wiese drew a walk to reach first.
It was Connor once again, who doubled to right field to send Wiese across the plate for an insurance run. Hastings added one of her own when she stole home when the Georgia defense was not paying attention.
Junior Britni Sneed worked seven innings for the Tigers, allowing only one hit, walking two and striking out nine. Sneed improved her record to 18-4 overall and 8-0 in the SEC while hurling her seventh shutout of the season. Sneed’s K count stands at 199 in 128 innings pitched for the season.
The Tiger bats performed well once again with nine hits off Georgia pitcher Kaili Howard. Connor had LSU’s only extra base hit with her fifth double of the year.
LSU returns home to Baton Rouge for a mid-week SEC series with Arkansas. The teams will play a doubleheader on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. that will be broadcast on a tape delay basis by College Sports Southeast. Game three of the series will be on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The Alabama Crimson Tide will roll into town on Saturday and Sunday for a three game SEC series. Both series will be carried by the LSU Sports Network on 107.3 FM and over the internet at www.LSUsports.net.