LAS VEGAS — Julie Wiese and Christy Connor each nailed home runs as the seventh-ranked LSU softball team defeated Central Michigan, 5-2, on Sunday morning in the final day of the UNLV Softball Classic at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Las Vegas, Nev.
The Tigers improved to 7-3 on the season and concluded the tournament with a 4-1 mark. Central Michigan fell to 1-4 for the tournament and the season.
“This was a great end to a very good tournament,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “Julie Wiese continues on her tear at the plate. It is great to see Christy Connor hit the ball so hard and Sara Fitzgerald just keeps coming up with timely hits and RBIs.”
Sophomore Tessa Lynam picked up the complete-game win for LSU to improve to 4-0 on the season. She allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits with no walks, while striking out a career-high 11 batters.
“Tessa threw a great game for us,” said Girouard. “She made just one mistake. She is working ahead of the batters and has been very effective.”
LSU got out of trouble early in the first inning. With one out, Allie Hansen hit an infield single deep in the hole at shortstop. She advanced to second as Tessa Lynam hit Michelle Brander. Lynam then got a pair of strikeouts to get out of the inning.
The Tigers got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Connor led off with a single up the middle. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Alicia Owen when the Chippewa pitcher, Jessica Garvin, kicked the ball away, also allowing Owen to reach.
After Lynam came in to pinch run for Connor at second, she and Owen advanced to second and third on a passed ball. Lynam then scored on a Blair Smith single down the left field line.
Wiese’s weekend of power continued in the bottom of the third as she nailed her fourth home run of the tournament, driving a 3-2 pitch deep over the center field fence. She is now just one home run from tying former LSU All-American Trena Peel in third place on the Tiger career home run list.
Central Michigan cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth inning. Brander hit a solo home run over the centerfield fence to lead off the inning. After an error by Smith allowed McCormack to reach, Lynam hit Christin Sobek to put runners on first and second.
A groundout by Hamilton advanced the runners to second and third before a single to left field by Aimee Smith scored McCormack to tie the game at 2-2. Lynam then got back-top-back strikeouts to end the threat, stranding Chippewa runners on first and third.
The Tigers retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth. LaDonia Hughes led off with a single through the left side. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Camille Harris. Hughes scored on a single down the left field line by Fitzgerald as Fitzgerald advanced to second on the play.
After Wiese struck out, Connor rocketed a 2-1 pitch over the right centerfield fence, extending the LSU lead to 5-2. The home run was the third of the tournament for Connor and the 15th of her career, moving her into a tie with Shaunte’ Fremin for fifth on the LSU career home run list. In five tournament games, the Tigers recorded nine home runs, including two multiple home run games.
After Central Michigan scored its two runs with one out in the fourth inning, LSU retired the final 11 Chippewa batters in order, including six Lynam strikeouts, to preserve the win.
LSU will travel to the NFCA Leadoff Classic next weekend. The Tigers will take on No. 10 Cal State Fullerton again, along with No. 3 Oklahoma and Villanova in pool play on Friday and Saturday. Bracket play begins on Saturday afternoon and continues through Sunday.