TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Six runs batted in and a pair of home runs by Lauren Delahoussaye led the fifth-ranked LSU softball team to a Southeastern Conference doubleheader sweep of seventh-ranked Alabama, 6-2 and 9-6, on Saturday afternoon at the Alabama Softball Complex.
With the series win, the Tigers improved to 30-7 overall and 9-4 in SEC play and moved into second place in the Western Division. The Crimson Tide dropped to 28-8 overall and 9-5 in league play and fell into third place in the West, a half game behind LSU.
The Tigers will go for their first series sweep against Alabama in Tuscaloosa in the finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on FoxSports in Baton Rouge on cable channel 38. The LSU Sports Network will broadcast the game in Baton Rouge on 107.3 FM and on the internet at www.LSUsports.net.
On the day, Delahoussaye combined to go 5-for-8 (.625) with a home run in each game, three runs scored, six RBIs and two stolen bases. The sophomore from Lafayette now leads the team with a .381 average on the season. In addition, she is one of three players on the team with nine home runs, which is tied for best in the SEC.
LaDonia Hughes also had an outstanding day offensively for the Tigers. She went 4-for-8 (.500) with five runs scored and three stolen bases.
“It was an incredible day for Delahoussaye,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We had an outstanding day offensively. We swang the bat with tremendous authority.”
In both games, the Tigers got on the board first, scoring in the first inning. LSU led 6-0 before Alabama scored its first runs of the game in the series opener. The Crimson Tide’s only runs came on a two-run home run in the sixth before LSU retired four of the final five outs in order to end the game.
In the second game, the Tigers were ahead 3-0 when Alabama broke through with a run in the second. LSU answered with two runs in the third. The Crimson Tide again attempted a rally with a run in the fourth, but the Tigers responded with three runs in the fifth. LSU added one more in the fifth before Alabama’s final rally of the game. The Crimson Tide scored two in the bottom of the sixth and two in the bottom of the seventh, but the Tigers held off the Alabama run and took the game and the series.
“Kristin seemed to control their hitters in the first game and came back to get the final out of the second game,” Girouard said. “Emily threw very well until the fifth or sixth inning of game two. What I was most impressed with in our performance today was that we played solid defensively and we answered every time Alabama tried to make a run.”
In the top of the first of game one, the Tigers wasted no time taking the early lead. Hughes led off with a bloop single to left field. After stealing second, she advanced to third on an infield ground out by Leslie Klein. Delahoussaye then knocked her eighth home run of the season down the left field line to give LSU the 2-0 advantage.
Delahoussaye came through again in the top of the third inning. With Lauren Castle on second and Klein on first after back-to-back singles, Delahoussaye hit an RBI single to right field. On the play, the right fielder over threw the catcher, allowing Klein to score from third to extend the Tiger lead to 4-0.
LSU took advantage of four base hits to add two more runs in the top of the fourth. Leigh Ann Danos led off with a single to right field. With Lauren Uhle pinch running for her at first, she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sara Fitzgerald. A single to right field by Camille Harris put runners on first and second. Hughes then beat out an infield single to load the bases. A single down the left field line by Castle scored Uhle and Harris.
The Crimson Tide broke up the shutout in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Jackie McClain drew a walk. With Mandy Burford pinch running for her at second, she stole second on a strikeout for the second out. Stephanie VanBrakle then hit her fifth home run of the year to left field to cut the Tiger lead to 6-2.
Kristin Schmidt earned the complete-game win for the Tigers to improve to 17-4 on the season. With six strikeouts in the game, she moved into 23rd place in NCAA history in career strikeouts. She allowed two runs on six hits with two walks.
Erin Wright started and took the loss for Alabama to fall to 11-3 on the year. She allowed six run, five earned, on nine hits with three strikeouts in three and a third innings. VanBrakle came on in relief in the fourth and allowed two hits with four strikeouts in three and two-thirds innings of work.
In game two, LSU struck early once again in the top of the first with three runs. Hughes led off with a bunt single. After she stole second, Castle beat out a ground ball to second base and took second on the play for a double as Hughes advanced to third. Klein then doubled to left field, scoring Hughes and Castle. An infield groundout by Delahoussaye sent Klein to third before she scored on a wild pitch.
Alabama got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the second. VanBrakle led off with a single to shortstop that Delahoussaye made a diving play on that just fell out of her glove. With Emily Currie pinch running, she advanced to second on a single to left field by Capper Reed. A sacrifice bunt sent Currie and Reed to second and third with one out. An infield groundout by Dominique Accetturo scored Currie for third to cut the Tiger lead to two, 3-1.
Delahoussaye came through with her second home run of the day to get the run back plus one. In the top of the third, Hughes reached on a fielding error by the third baseman to lead off the inning. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Castle and went to third on a groundout by Klein. Delahoussaye then sent the first pitch over the left field fence, scoring Hughes and giving LSU the 5-1 advantage.
In the bottom of the fourth, Alabama got its second run of the day. With one out, VanBrakle drew a walk. Reed then doubled to right field, sending VanBrakle to third. She then scored on a single to left field by Staci Ramsey.
The Tigers rebounded with three runs in the top of the fifth. Hughes reached on a fielding error by the pitcher to lead off the inning. After stealing second, she moved to third on an infield ground out by Klein. With two outs, Delahoussaye singled up the middle, scoring Hughes from third. Stephanie Hill then nailed a two-run home run to straight away center field, her ninth of the season.
In the top of sixth, LSU took advantage of the third Alabama error of the day to add another run. With one out, Hughes singled through the right side. She advanced to second on a wild pitch before moving to third on an infield groundout by Castle. On a ground ball to third by Klein, the third baseman threw the ball away, allowing Hughes to score.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Crimson Tide scored a pair of runs. With two outs, Reed and Ramsey hit back to back singles. A single to right field by Accetturo scored Reed and sent Ramsey to third as Accetturo took second on the throw. On a single to center field by Michelle Menningmann, Ramsey scored from third before Accetturo was gunned down at the plate by Hughes as she tried to score from second. Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy was then ejected from the game after arguing the call at home.
In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Angela Johnson doubled to left center. She then scored on a single to left field by McClain as McClain moved to second. A single to right field by VanBrakle scored Phillips, pinch running for McClain to cut the LSU lead to 9-6. Schmidt then came back in to relieve Tuner in the circle. She got Courtney to pop out to Danos to end the game.
Emily Turner started and earned the win for the Tigers to improve to 12-3 on the year. She allowed six runs on 11 hits with a walk and a strikeout in six and two-thirds innings. Schmidt came on in relief to record the final out and earn the save, her first of the year.
For the Crimson Tide, Jennifer Wright started and took the loss. She allowed five runs, three earned, on five hits with three strikeouts in three innings. VanBrakle came on in relief to allow four unearned runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts on four innings.
The Tigers will take a break from conference action for a mid-week series with Nicholls State. LSU will travel to Thibodaux for a game against the Lady Colonels on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The following day, the pair will meet again in Baton Rouge in a single game at 6 p.m. in a make-up for a game that was rained out on Feb. 25.
LSU 202 200 0 – 6 11 0
Alabama 000 002 0 – 2 6 1
Schmidt and Danos. E. Wright, VanBrakle (4) and Ramsey. W – Schmidt (17-4). L – E. Wright (11-3). HR – Delahoussaye, VanBrakle. T – 2:24.
LSU 302 031 0 – 9 9 0
Alabama 010 102 2 – 6 11 3
Turner and Danos. J. Wright, VanBrakle (4) and Ramsey. W – Turner (12-3). L – J. Wright (8-1). Save – Schmidt (1). HR – Delahoussaye, Hill. T – 2:23. A – 924.