COLUMBUS, Ga. — Home runs were the order of the day as the 12th-ranked LSU softball team took a pair of wins, 5-0 over Ohio State and 4-2 over Florida Atlantic, in the first day of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic on Friday afternoon in the South Commons Stadium and Complex.
The Tigers used four homers, including three in the second game, to improve to 14-3 overall and 2-0 in the tournament. Ohio State dropped to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the tournament, while Florida Atlantic fell to 10-6 overall and 0-1 in tournament play.
None of the LSU home runs was bigger the Julie Wiese’s sixth inning round-tripper against Florida Atlantic that broke a 2-2 tie. In addition to tying the school career home run record with 27, she provided what proved to be the game-winning runs with the two-run shot to right center field.
“I think for Julie to reach this record speaks for her outstanding achievements as a player for four years,” said Girouard. “She has been a steady performer throughout her career and this is a wonderful accomplishment.”
In the Tigers 4-2 win over the Owls, all six combined runs were scored via the home run. LSU took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning on a pair of solo homers by Lauren Castle and Stephanie Hill. For Castle, it was the first home run for her as a Tiger. Hill is now tied for the team lead with five home runs.
After recording only two harmless singles through the first four innings, Florida Atlantic recorded back-to-back solo home runs to lead off the top of the fifth inning to tie the game.
LSU had an opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the inning as LaDonia Hughes tripled to right center, but she was stranded on third. Wiese came through in the sixth innings with the two-run shot that also scored Sara Fitzgerald, who had reached on a walk.
“This was a good win for us,” said Girouard. “Florida Atlantic is a team that came away with a pair of one-run losses to two top 10 teams, so they are a very good team. Although our offense came alive in the first inning, it kind of went flat after that. It was good to see that when we were put in a situation where we needed to score, Julie came through with the timely hit That is something we can use down the road.”
Kristin Schmidt earned the complete-game win for the Tigers against the Owls to improve to 7-2 on the year. She allowed two runs on six hits with a walk while striking out 10. It was her fourth double-figure strikeout performance of the season.
Amanda Morin took the complete game loss for the Owls to drop to 6-2 on the season. She allowed four runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
The Tigers opened play with a shutout of Ohio State. LSU used five runs in the top of the second and a one-hit performance by Emily Turner to shut down the Buckeyes.
After having a pair of runners in scoring position in the first inning and not converting, the Tiger wasted no time in the second. With one out Lauren Delahoussaye nailed her second career home run to left center to give LSU the lead. Turner then hit an infield single and Camille Harris drew a walk to put runners on first and second.
After a fielder’s choice got Turner going to third, Castle beat out a sharply hit single to load the bases. Leslie Klein hit her fourth double of the year to left center that cleared the bases. Hill capped off the scoring with a single up the middle that scored Klein from second to give the Tigers the 5-0 lead.
After Ohio State changed pitchers in the third inning, LSU could not take advantage of runners in scoring position in the third and fourth innings.
Turner was brilliant for the Tigers in the circle. She earned the complete-game one-hit victory to improve to 6-1 on the season. Although she recorded only one strikeout, the freshman was a walk and a bunt single from a perfect game.
“Emily was outstanding for us against Ohio State,” said Girouard. “She came up with the pitches when she needed to and relied on her defense to take care of the rest.”
LSU will complete pool play on No. 3 California on Saturday at 9 a.m. (CST) in a rematch of a game the Tigers lost 5-1 at the UNLV Softball Classic. The game will be broadcast in Baton Rouge on the student radio station, KLSU, 91.1 FM.
Once pool place is completed, the top team from each of the six pools and two at-large teams will advance to the Gold Championship bracket. The remaining second-place teams and four at-large teams will be chosen for the Silver Championship bracket. The final eight teams will comprise the Bronze Championship bracket.
Bracket play begins on Saturday at 3 p.m. (CST) and 6:30 p.m. (CST) and continue through Sunday at 8 a.m. (CST), 10 a.m. (CST) and concludes with the championship games of each bracket at noon (CST).