BATON ROUGE — Timely hitting and strong pitching led the ninth-ranked LSU softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Northwestern State, 2-1 and 5-0, on Wednesday night at Tiger Park.
The Tigers improve to 9-3 on the year and have now won five-straight contests. The Lady Demons drop to 0-4 with the losses. LSU remains undefeated in the seven-year series, winning all 18 meetings with the Lady Demons.
“Northwestern is a very good team,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We always have trouble putting Northwestern away so you have to give credit to them, but I do like the fight in us. We never seem to quit and that’s good for a young team.”
In the two-game series, Sara Fitzgerald, Blair Smith and Megann Steege each combined to go 3-for-6 the plate. Fitzgerald nailed a double and recorded a pair of RBIs. Smith hit a double, a triple and scored three runs. Steege hit a double, scored a run and knocked in two runs, including the game winner in the opening game.
“Wow. The production we are getting out of Blair Smith and Sara Fitzgerald is awesome,” said Girouard. “Those were almost non-existent bats for us last year so it’s good to see other people rise to the occasion this year.”
In the first game, the Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. LaDonia Hughes reached on an error by the Lady Demon first baseman Tasha Hess. A double by Fitzgerald scored Hughes from first for the first run of the game.
A bunt single by Kiana Scott in the top of the third inning broke up the perfect game by Kristin Schmidt and was the only baserunner Schmidt allowed until the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, Schmidt walked Lindsey Leftwich. After Lauren Fitts came on to run for Leftwich, Amanda Ortego doubled down the left field line to score Fitts from first and tie the game at 1-1.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Smith nailed her first career triple to right centerfield. A single by Steege off the left centerfield wall scored Smith to give the Tigers the 2-1 win.
Schmidt picked up her third straight win to improve to 4-3 on the year. She allowed one run on two hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Ortego got the loss for NSU, falling to 0-2 on the season. She allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
“Kristin Schmidt has just pitched awesome for us,” said Girouard. “She has just thrown phenomenal all year. She just needs some run support.”
In the nightcap, the Tigers once again jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Hughes singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by Katrina Walker. A groundout by Fitzgerald advanced Hughes to third before she scored on an illegal pitch by Loni Rasberry.
The Lady Demons mounted their biggest threat in the top of the third inning.
With one out, Walker reached on an error by Alicia Owen. An infield single by Sarina Noack put runners on first and second before a bunt single by Nicole Martin loaded the bases. Tiger pitcher Tessa Lynam got out of the jam when Shawyetta Hunt grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Again Northwestern State put a runner in scoring position in the top of the fourth. With one out, Leftwich reached on an error by Owen. With McMillin pinch running for Leftwich, she advanced to second on an Ortego walk.
Krystle Nichols then grounded into the fielder’s choice before Lynam struck out Shea LeDoux to end the threat.
LSU added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break the game open. With two outs, Smith singled and advanced to second on a second error by Walker. Steege doubled down the left field line to score Smith from second. A single up the middle by Alicia Owen scored Steege to give the Tigers the 3-0 advantage.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Hughes hit the first triple of her LSU career to left centerfield. A Fitzgerald infield single scored Hughes to run the score to 4-0.
The Tigers concluded the scoring with one run in the bottom of the sixth. A double by Smith to lead off the inning got things started. She advanced to third on a single by Steege. A sacrifice fly by Lauren Delahoussaye scored Smith to give LSU the 5-0 win.
Lynam picked up her first collegiate complete-game shutout in the win for the Tigers, running her record to 5-0 on the season. She allowed three hits and one walk while striking out nine Lady Demon batters.
Rasberry got the loss for Northwestern, dropping to 0-2 on the year. She allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts in 3 and two-thirds innings. Crista Miller came on in relief in the fourth to allow two earned runs on five hits with a strikeout.
LSU returns to action on Friday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.
The Tigers will face Villanova at 12:30 p.m. CT. before a rematch with No. 7 Cal State Fullerton at 4 p.m. CT. LSU will conclude pool play against No. 10 Oklahoma on Saturday at 11 p.m. CT. Bracket play begins Saturday afternoon and concludes on Sunday.