BATON ROUGE — Christy Connor led the 11th-ranked LSU softball team to a Southeastern Conference series sweep with an 11-1 five-inning win over Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at Tiger Park.
Riding a seven-game winning streak, the Tigers improved to 33-11 overall and 11-6 in SEC play. Kentucky dropped to 9-34 overall and 1-22 in league play, extending its losing streak to 21 games.
“Today was a fun day to be at the ballpark,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We relaxed at the plate and hit the ball in some primetime RBI situations. Left on base can kill a coach and we came through when we needed to today.
“I thought our defense did an excellent job,” Girouard continued. “We focused and got the sweep when we needed it.”
Kristin Schmidt got the complete-game win to improve to 20-9 on the season. She allowed one run on two hits with three walks while striking out four.
“Kristin did a great job today,” Girouard said. “She is in sync again after a rough stretch earlier in the season. She has worked hard to get back in synch and her hard work is paying off.”
Batting in the eighth spot, Connor went 3-for-3 with two doubles, four RBIs and a run scored. From the seventh hole, Julie Wiese also recorded a pair of doubles as she went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. The final five batters in the Tiger lineup combined to go 9-for-12 in the game with five doubles, nine RBIs and seven runs scored.
“The bottom of the line up has been coming up to the plate in some big situations and they have been coming through,” said Girouard.
Using two walks and a base hit, Kentucky loaded the bases in the top of the first inning. Schmidt came back to get Jessica Nance to foul out to Julie Wiese at third to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Sara Fitzgerald and Tessa Lynam walked to put runners on first and second. After an infield ground out by Leigh Ann Danos moved Fitzgerald and Lynam to second and third. On a single up the middle by Blair Smith, Fitzgerald scored before Lynam was thrown out trying to score from second for the 1-0 LSU lead.
The Tigers added two more in the second inning. Alicia Owen led off with a double to left centerfield. With one out, Christy Connor doubled to left field and Owen advance to third. Owen then scored on a single up the middle by Megann Steege. Connor then scored on a single to left field by Fitzgerald to run the LSU lead to 3-0.
Kentucky got on the board in the top of the third inning. Nikki Jones led off with a triple to right field. With one out, Lyndsey Angus walked. On a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Friberg, Jones scored from third and Angus moved to second. Schmidt got out of the inning on a groundout by Amy Kendall.
LSU regained its three-run advantage and stretched the lead to five in the bottom of the inning. Lynam reached on a two-base error by the Kentucky left fielder. She advanced to third on a fly out to centerfield by Leigh Ann Danos and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blair Smith.
Owen then drew a two-out walk before Julie Wiese doubled to left field to put runners on second and third. A single to right field by Connor scored Owen and Wiese for the 6-1 Tiger lead.
LSU then broke the game wide open in the fourth inning with five runs.
Hughes led off with a single up the middle. She advanced to third on a single by Lynam as Lynam moved to second on the throw. A walk to Danos loaded the bases. On a fielder’s choice by Smith, Hughes was thrown out at home for the first out.
Owen just missed a grand slam, as the ball went just foul down the left field line, before drawing a bases loaded walk to score Lynam from third. A double down the left field line by Wiese scored Smith and Danos and moved Owen to third. Connor doubled to right centerfield to score Owen and Wiese for the 11-1 advantage.
Kendall recorded the loss for Kentucky to fall to 6-19 on the season. She allowed 11 runs, eight earned, on 12 hits with five walks.
The Tigers return to action on Tuesday at home against Southeastern Louisiana at 6:30 p.m. The game is a make up for the original game scheduled for March 6 and rescheduled for April 8. Both previous games were cancelled due to rain.