BATON ROUGE — The third-ranked LSU softball team rallied from a two-run deficit in the first game to take a 6-2 win in game one, before cruising to a 6-0 victory in the second game to sweep a doubleheader from Mississippi State at Tiger Park Wednesday night to open Southeastern Conference play.
The Tigers (20-3, 2-0 SEC) now extend their winning streak to 15 consecutive games and have won 17 of their last 18. The Bulldogs dropped to 16-8 overall and 0-2 in league play.
While capitalizing on five Mississippi State errors on the day with four runs, LSU combined to commit three errors of its own that allowed both Bulldog runs in the first contest.
“We were a little flat after as good as we played last weekend, but two wins, we’ll take them,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “They were ugly, but they go down as W’s in the column.”
Julie Wiese led LSU with a 4-for-6 day at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Leslie Klein also put up great numbers offensively for the Tigers with a 3-for-8 performance with a double, a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
“We kind of looked a little off at the plate, which is amazing, but once again there are some weapons there,” said Girouard.
In the first game, Mississippi State got on the board first in the top of the second inning. Jennifer Waterman led off with a single to left field and advanced to third on the two-base error by Klein in left. With two outs, she scored on a bloop single to center by Lindsey Nelson.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth. With one out, Waterman singled up the middle. With Keri McFarling pinch running for her at second, she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. McFarling scored on an error by Wiese at third as the ball got away from her on the infield.
LSU got one run back in the bottom half of the inning. With one out Klein doubled to left center. With two outs, Lauren Delahoussaye drew a walk. Wiese then singled to center field to score Klein from second.
The Tigers then exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth, aided by two Mississippi State errors. With one out, Delahoussaye singled up the middle. A second single up the middle by Wiese moved Delahoussaye to second. Sara Fitzgerald then drew a walk to load the bases.
Kristen Hobbs was hit by a pitch that scored the first LSU run of the inning. A single to center field by Camille Harris scored Fitzgerald from third. Hughes then recorded an infield single as Wiese scored. On a fielder’s choice by Lauren Castle, Hobbs was thrown out at home, but on a throw down to first, the catcher over threw the first baseman, allowing Harris to score. Hughes also scored on the play as the left fielder overthrew second base attempting to get Castle going to second to give the Tigers the 6-1 win.
Kristin Schmidt earned the complete-game victory to improve to 10-2 on the season. She allowed two unearned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
Stephanie Comeaux came on in relief in the fifth to take the loss. She allowed two runs on two hits in an inning and a third. Melissa Massey started and threw four innings, allowing one run on four hits with three walks.
Sara Hickerson replaced Comeaux in the sixth to face one batter and allow one run on a walk. Kelli Miller closed out the game for the Bulldogs. She allowed two unearned runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.
In the second game, Emily Turner held Mississippi State scoreless and held the SEC’s second-leading offensive team to just three hits. With the complete-game win, she moved to 8-1 on the year, allowing just two walks, while striking out three.
“Emily controlled the hitters,” said Girouard. “You’re number one objective when you are pitching is to get a strikeout, the second objective is to control your hitters. That is what she did tonight.”
LSU scored first in the bottom of the third. With one out, Hughes beat out an infield single. With two outs and Lauren Castle on second, Klein hit a monstrous home run over the center field fence to give the Tigers the 2-0 lead.
LSU added one in the fourth on a bases loaded single through the left side by Harris. Three Bulldogs errors in the fifth allowed the Tigers to plate two more runs to give them the 5-0 advantage.
An RBI groundout by Castle in the bottom of the sixth inning closed out the scoring for the game as Mississippi State went down in order in the top of the seventh.
The series will conclude with a single game on Thursday at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Network in Baton Rouge on Jam’n 107.3 FM or on the internet at www.LSUsports.net.
The Tigers will next travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on the Lady Vols in a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon (CST). The series will conclude with a single game on Sunday at noon (CST).
Tennessee features freshman pitcher Monica Abbott, who was also tabbed as the national player of the week this season. Boasting a 17-1 record, she leads the SEC in wins and strikeouts this season.
Mississippi State 010 100 0 – 2 7 2
LSU 000 105 x – 6 8 2
Massey, Comeaux (5), Hickerson (6), Miller (6) and Geddings. Schmidt and Hobbs, Hill. W – Schmidt (11-2). L – Comeaux (5-3). T – 1:55.
Mississippi State 000 000 0 – 0 3 3
LSU 002 121 x – 6 8 1
Miller, Comeaux (4), Hickerson (6) and Geddings. Turner and Danos. W – Turner (8-1). L – Miller (3-2). HR – Klein. T – 1:47. A – 641.