AUBURN, Ala. — The 11th-ranked LSU softball team broke the single-season record and tied the single-game record for home runs as they completed the three-game sweep of Auburn with a 10-1 victory in six inning on Sunday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field.
With the win, the Fighting Tigers improved to 43-12 overall and 19-7 in conference play. Auburn dropped to 26-28 on the year and 13-16 in league action.
“It was a great performance today by the LSU Tigers,” said head coach Yvette Girouard. “Our hitters were locked in and focused. It’s was a lot of fun.”
With five home runs in the game, LSU broke the single-season home run record with 44 on the year. The previous season record was 41 held by the 2001 Women’s College World Series team. The five home runs also tied the single-game record set earlier this season against Cal Poly.
Tessa Lynam tied the school record with a pair of homers in the game and now has eight on the season. Christy Connor and Alicia Owen hit their second home runs of the Auburn series after each belting round trippers on Saturday. Blair Smith knocked her first home run of the series and third of the season.
“Hitting home runs is not something we preach, but right now we just have so much pop in our bats,” Giroaurd said of the 23 home runs LSU has belted in the last 11 games. “Our hitters believe and they have that home run mind set when they go to the plate. They feel good, are seeing the ball and think that we can put a lot of runs on the board.”
Kristin Schmidt earned the complete-game win for LSU to improve to 28-10 on the year. She allowed one run on four hits with eight strikeouts. With the win, she moved into sole possession of third place in single-season wins in school history.
“We got another great effort from Kristin Schmidt,” said Girouard. “She threw a great game for us today.”
LSU took advantage of erratic pitching by Auburn starter Kristin Keyes in the top of the first to open op an early 3-0 lead. After back-to-back walks to Sara Fitzgerald and LaDonia Hughes to open the game, Connor nailed her home run to straightaway centerfield for the 3-0 advantage.
With two outs, Owen drove a 3-2 pitch over the scoreboard in left center.
The colossal shot was also her second home run of the series and extended the Fighting Tiger lead to 4-0.
Auburn responded with a run in the bottom of the second. With one out, Kasey Angulo homered to left field to cut the LSU lead to 4-1. The run was the first Schmidt allowed in 12 innings pitched against Auburn.
LSU got the run back with a leadoff home run by Lynam in the top of the fourth. Lynam also hit a towering shot that cleared the scoreboard in left center and built the Fighting Tiger lead to four once again. After issuing a walk to Owen, Keyes was pulled for Angulo.
Danos sacrificed Owen to second before an infield groundout by Smith moved Owen to third. A wild pitch by Angulo scored the run and pushed the LSU lead to 6-1.
In the top of the sixth, Lynam recorded her second home run of the game. With one out Lynam sent the ball out of the park in centerfield, tying the LSU single-game record for home runs in a game. After a single through the left side by Owen, Danos doubled down the left field line to score Owen from first and the 8-1 Fighting Tiger lead.
With Reeves, pinch running for Danos, on second, Smith hit her third home run of the season to put LSU ahead 10-1.
Keyes got the loss for Auburn to fall to 12-13 on the season. She allowed six runs on three hits with three walk and four strikeouts in three innings. Angulo came on in relief in the fourth and allowed four runs on four hits with three strikeouts in two and a third innings of work. Jenny Diaz closed out the game for Auburn. She allowed two hits and a walk with a strikeout in two thirds innings.
The Fighting Tigers will return home for their final regular-season home game as LSU takes on Southern Miss for Senior Day on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Prior to the game, the Fighting Tigers will honor the three members of the senior class – Connor, Reeves and Megann Steege.