BATON ROUGE — Freshman Leslie Klein knocked in four runs as the third-ranked LSU softball team won the rubber match with 15th-ranked South Carolina, 4-0, to win the series on Sunday afternoon at Tiger Park.
With the win, the Tiger improved to 25-5 overall and 6-2 in Southeastern Conference play. The Gamecocks fell to 14-5 on the year and 3-3 in league play.
After splitting two extra inning games that came down to plays at the plate, LSU took control early in the finale with a two-run double by Klein in the first inning and never looked back. In the third inning, Klein nailed a two-run home run to cap off the scoring as the Tigers cruised to the easy victory. For the game, Klein went 2-or-4 with four RBIs and a run scored.
All-American senior Kristin Schmidt faced the minimum in the circle to earn complete-game shutout victory, her sixth of the season. She allowed just one second- inning hit while striking out eight to improve to 15-3 on the year.
“This was a must win for us today and we responded,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. ” Schmidt was in total control like she was yesterday. She is getting better and better and seems to be getting stronger as the season goes on. Klein also had a great day at the ballpark. She hit everything they threw her and that’s the mark of a good player that she can go with the pitch.”
The Tigers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. LaDonia Hughes was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After she stole second, Lauren Castle drew a walk to put runners on first and second. A wild pitch moved the pair to second and third. Leslie Klein then doubled to left field that drove in Hughes and Castle to give LSU the 2-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Ashley Smith led off with a double down the right field line. The Tigers got out of the inning without any damage as Schmidt coaxed Amber Curtis into a ground out and caught a line shot from Kristin Hall that doubled up Smith on second to end the inning. Smith would be the only Gamecock to reach base in the game as Schmidt retired the final 18 in order.
LSU added two more in the bottom of the third inning. Castle led off with a single up the middle. Klein the drove her team-leading eighth home run of the season to left field to extend the Tiger lead to 4-0.
Melanie Henkes took the complete-game loss for South Carolina to fall to 3-3 on the season. She allowed four runs on five hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
The Tigers now travel to Shreveport, La., for a non-conference game against Centenary. LSU defeated the Ladies, 9-0 in five innings, in the season opener at Tiger Park.
The Tigers then return to SEC action against Georgia next weekend in a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and concluding with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
South Carolina 000 000 0 – 0 1 0
LSU 202 000 0 – 4 5 0
Henkes and Smith. Schmidt and Danos
W – Schmidt (15-3). L – Henkes (3-3). T – 1:44.