BATON ROUGE — After knocking in what proved to be the game-winning run in 12th-ranked LSU’s win over 10th-ranked Florida State in the NFCA Leadoff Classic championship game, Tiger designated player Lauren Castle was named the Southeastern Conference Hitter of the Week, it was announced on Monday.
For the week, the sophomore from Lafayette, La., went 10-for-23 (.435) from the plate with a double, her first home run of the season, six runs scored and six RBIs.
Against the Seminoles in the Leadoff Classic championship game, she nailed an RBI double down the left field line that gave LSU the 4-2 lead as the Tigers went on to win, 4-3. Earlier in the tournament, she nailed her first home run in a purple and gold uniform against Florida Atlantic, which is receiving votes in the current polls.
The transfer from UL-Lafayette also broke open a scoreless game against No. 4 Washington in the top of the seventh inning with a two-RBI single as the LSU went on to take the 4-2 victory. A game earlier, she scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the Tigers’ 6-1 win over previously unbeaten and third-ranked California. The win avenged a 5-1 loss to the Bears two weeks ago in the UNLV Softball Classic in Las Vegas.
Castle led the team in batting average at .435, hits with 10 and runs scored with six on the week. She is also currently riding a 10-game hitting streak.
LSU returns to action to begin SEC play against Mississippi State this week. The Tigers open with a doubleheader against the Bulldogs on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The series concludes with a single game on Thursday at 4 p.m. The games will be broadcast on the radio on the LSU Sports Network, Jam’n 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge and on the internet at LSUsports.net.