BATON ROUGE — The seventh-ranked LSU softball team split a doubleheader with Arkansas on Tuesday night in Tiger Park. Britni Sneed threw her eighth shutout of the season in the 3-0 game one win, but the Tigers committed four errors in game two that led to the 3-2 Arkansas upset of the night cap.
“Once again, this just steps up and bites us,” said head coach Yvette Girouard. “We can’t seem to have the same intensity for the second game. We had no defense in the second game, and Arkansas had timely hits. On a positive note, once again, Britni threw a great game.”
LSU moves to 31-7 overall and 11-3 in the Southeastern Conference. Arkansas moves to 21-21 overall and 6-8 in the SEC.
LSU put a run on the board in their half of the first inning of game one. Louisiana Softball Player of the Week Julie Wiese grounded out to second base with one out to send Dee Douglas home from third base.
The Tigers added a second run in the bottom of the third inning when Stephanie Hastings extended her hitting streak to 13 games as she singled up the middle to send Douglas home for the second time. In the third inning, Hastings stole home as Wiese stole second to distract the defense.
Junior Britni Sneed hurled a one-hitter in the Tiger victory. She improved her record to 19-4 overall and 9-0 in the SEC and struck out 11 Lady’Backs in the process.
The Tiger hitters had five hits off Arkansas junior pitcher Rachel Talley. Talley struckout seven Tigers, walked two and allowed two earned runs. Hastings had the only extra base of the game with her ninth double of the season.
The Lady’ Backs took the lead first in game two when Andi Wharton scored on a throwing error by the catcher Jennifer Schuelke.
The Tigers answered back in the bottom of the fourth when Schuelke doubled to right center to send home pinch runner Auburne Ziober and designated hitter Megann Steege.
However, Arkansas regained the lead in the top of the fifth. Danica Howlett singled to tie the game at 2-2 as Wharton crossed the plate for her second run of the game. Julie Young followed Howlett with a single to send home pinch runner Tiffany Johnson for the lead run.
Heather Schlichtman would hold on for the win to improve to 16-9 overall.
She allowed eight hits, walked three and struckout five. Ashley Lewis falls to 10-3 overall as she allowed six hits and struckout five. Sneed pitched two innings in relief with no hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
Schuelke went two for two at the plate with two doubles and two RBI. Douglas was 4-for-4 at the plate.
The Tigers face the Razorbacks on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in a single game before preparing for the fourth ranked Alabama Crimson Tide to roll into town on Saturday and Sunday.