BATON ROUGE — With a pair of home runs and a complete-game shutout by pitcher Britni Sneed, the Tigers took game three of the three-game series from Southeastern Conference rival Mississippi State, 4-0, on Wednesday afternoon at Tiger Park.
The Tigers improve to 21-7 overall and 6-2 in SEC play, while the Bulldogs fall to 19-14 overall and 2-4 in league play. LSU will host South Carolina in a three-game series this weekend beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m. and single game on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Sneed earned the win to improve to 11-4 on the season with her eighth complete-game shutout of the year. She allowed only three hits and one walk while striking out eight.
Melissa Massy got the loss for Mississippi State, dropping her record to 3-6 on the season. She went four innings, giving up four runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout. Kasey Whitehead came on in relief in the fifth inning and went two innings and did not allow a run on two hits.
After Bulldog rightfielder Jennifer Nelson recorded an infield single to leadoff the game, Sneed responded and did not allow another Bulldog to reach base until the fifth inning.
LSU struggled at the plate to start the game, not getting its first base runner until the bottom of the third inning, but stranded a pair of runners on the bases.
“I was concerned a lot in the first four innings because I thought we looked flat,” said Girouard. “I knew after we scored, we would be okay. Anytime you give Britni a two-run lead, you know she will battle for the win.”
The Tigers finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Julie Wiese singled up the middle before Tessa Lynam cranked her third home run of the season over the right centerfield fence to give LSU the 2-0 lead.
“Tessa just needs to swing the bat,” said Girouard. “She has incredible hands and was one of the best hitters in America when we recruited her. When she lets loose and takes her hacks, good things happen.”
Mississippi State recorded its second hit of the game in the fifth when Kate Jaspers singled to left field. After stealing second base, she was stranded after Brooke Best popped up to the Sara Fitzgerald at second base and Sneed struck out Whitehead looking.
LSU added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a home run by Trena Peel. Aleshia Perry led off the inning with a base hit up the middle and stole second. Peel then hit her second homer of the year over the left centerfield fence to give LSU the 4-0 lead.
“Aleshia has caught fire lately, she has such confidence,” said Girouard. “And if you get the home run, it sure helps when people are on base.”
Mississippi State added one hit in the top of the sixth inning on a single by Jennifer Jessup. She advanced to second on a groundout to the shortstop by Krystal Tillman and went to third on a wild pitch, but Sneed got Tyeah Patterson to strike out swinging to end the inning.
The Bulldogs went down in order in the seventh to end the game.