BATON ROUGE — Leigh Ann Danos went 3-for-3 and accounted for four of the Tigers’ five runs as the third-ranked LSU softball defeated Mississippi State, 5-4, on Thursday afternoon at Tiger Park to complete the three-game sweep of the Bulldogs.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 21-3 overall and 3-0 in Southeastern Conference play, extending their winning streak to 16 consecutive games. The Bulldogs dropped to 16-9 overall and 0-3 in SEC play with the loss.
Danos led the way for the Tigers at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance with a home run and three runs batted in, including the game winner in the sixth. The junior from Lafayette also scored one run and was responsible for a second run scored by pinch runner Lauren Uhle.
“With Mississippi State, it’s never pretty, but I’ll take the three wins,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “I think Leigh Ann took the challenge when she was not playing as much as she would have liked and she came out with abandon.”
Trailing 4-3 going into the top of the fourth inning, Emily Turner came on in relief and allowed just one baserunner on a single to right field in the fifth inning. The freshman from Chula Vista, Calif., then went on to retire the final nine batters of the game.
“We had a huge debate about who was going to pitch today, but for Emily she just keeps continuing to grow up and come along,” said Girouard.
LSU took the early lead in the first inning. LaDonia Hughes led off with a single up the middle. After she was put out on a fielder’s choice by Lauren Castle, Castle moved to third on a single by Leslie Klein. Castle then scored on a sacrifice fly by Stephanie Hill.
Mississippi State tied the game in the top of the second as Jennifer Waterman led off with a double to left center. On an error by Sara Fitzgerald covering second on a sacrifice attempt by Lindsey Nelson, Waterman advanced to third. She then scored on a single up the middle by Blaire Brown.
In the bottom of the inning, Hill reached on an error to lead off. She then scored on a home run to left field by Danos, her second on the year, to put the Tigers ahead, 3-1.
The Bulldogs grabbed the lead in the third with three runs. Meagan O’Nan led off with a bloop single to third base. Kate Jaspers then recorded a bunt single that moved O’Nan to second. Iyhia McMichael then homered to left field to give Mississippi State the 4-3 advantage.
“Schmidt just gets dinked and dunked to death and the next thing you know (the McMichael home run),” said Giroaurd. “We had pretty much shut down Iyhia the whole series. She’s too good a player to shut down completely.”
The Tigers came back to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Danos singled to left field. With Uhle pinch running for her, she moved to second on a ground out by Camille Harris. Uhle then scored on an error by the first baseman as Hughes reached base.
In the bottom of the sixth, LSU took the lead for good. With one out, Fitzgerald struck out, but reached on a wild pitch. After stealing second, she scored on a single through the right side by Danos to give the Tigers the 5-4 win.
Kristin Schmidt started and went three innings. She allowed four runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
Kelli Miller took the loss for Mississippi State in relief. She came on in the second and allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with a strikeout. Melissa Massey started and went an inning and a third. She allowed three runs on four hits with a walk.
LSU will now 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).
Mississippi State 013 000 0 – 4 7 2
LSU 120 101 x – 5 8 1
Massey, Miller (2) and Geddings. Schmidt, Turner (4) and Danos.
W – Turner (9-1). L – Miller (3-3). HR – Danos. T – 1:45. A – 483.