BATON ROUGE — A 15-run fourth inning and a record performance by Stephanie Hill led a 15-run fourth inning as the fifth-ranked LSU softball team dominated Nicholls State, 20- 5, on Thursday night at Tiger Park.
With the overwhelming win, the Tigers improve to 33-7 on the season. Nicholls State was run-ruled for just the second time in the season, falling to 15-19 on the year.
After going scoreless through the first two innings, LSU got on the board with five runs in the third. The Tigers then batted around twice as they put up 15 runs in the bottom of the fourth, nearly doubling their largest single-inning outing of the season.
“We came out and just ripped the ball tonight,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “What I liked the most was when they brought (Dione) Meier in late in the game, we hit the ball well off of her. She is a very good pitcher.”
Hill tied the LSU single-game record with two home runs in the game to send her season total to 12, also tying the single-season home run record. In addition, the sophomore from Harahan knocked in seven runs, tying the school single-game RBI record set earlier this season by Leslie Klein. She finished the game at 3-for-4 with three runs scored.
“Stephanie had an amazing night,” said Girouard. “It is funny how fast the balls just get out of the park. She hits the ball so hard, they are like lasers.”
Sophomore Lauren Castle hit her fourth home run of the season as she finished the game at 2-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Senior LaDonia Hughes also knocked in three on a 1-for-3 performances with two runs scored.
Freshman Kristin Hobbs hit a pair of doubles in the fourth inning as she finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. A double by senior Sara Fitzgerald was one of her two hits as she finished the game at 2-for-2 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Not to be overlooked by the offensive output was a two-hit shutout by freshman Emily Turner, her sixth complete-game shutout of the season. She allowed just the two base runners while striking out six in the win to improve to 13-3 on the season.
The Tigers struck first with five runs in the bottom of the third inning. Fitzgerald was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Harris then singled up the middle to move Fitzgerald to second. On a Hughes ground out, Fitzgerald went to third and Harris moved to second. With two outs, Leslie Klein drew a walk to load the bases.
Delahoussaye then singled up the middle to score Fitzgerald and Harris as Klein went to third and Delahoussaye went to second on the throw. Hill then knocked her first home run of the game to left center field, scoring three more runs to give the Tigers the 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth LSU erupted with a 15-run explosion. Hobbs led off with a double to left center. A single through the left side by Fitzgerald moved Hobbs to third as Fitzgerald took second on the throw. Harris walked to load the bases. A single up the middle by Hughes scored Hobbs and Fitzgerald as Harris moved to third and Hughes advanced to second.
Castle then singled through the right side, scoring Hughes and Harris, as Castle advanced to third on an error by the right fielder. Klein drew a walk and advanced to second on an infield ground out by Delahoussaye. With one out, Hill singled up the middle, scoring Castle and Klein to run the score to 11-0.
Julie Wiese walked to send Hill to second. Hobbs then nailed her second double of the inning to deep center field, sending Wiese to third and scoring Hill. Fitzgerald doubled to left center to score Wiese and Hobbs before advancing to third on a wild pitch. After Harris drew a walk, Hughes reached on an error by the right fielder as Harris moved to second and Fitzgerald scored. Castle then hit a three-run home run to right field, giving LSU the 18-0 lead.
Klein then drew a walk. After Delahoussaye struck out for the second out of the inning, Hill hit her record-tying home run to left field, scoring Klein and running the score to 20-0.
Nichole Wagner started and took the loss for Nicholls State to fall to 4-10 on the year. She allowed nine runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout in three innings. Christina Hanson came on in relief in the fourth. She allowed five runs on three hits with two walks in a third of an inning.
Meier, who allowed only three runs on four hits in the loss to the Tigers on Wednesday night, allowed six runs, three earned, on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning to close out the game.
SU has the weekend off before traveling to Arkansas for a mid-week three-game Southeastern Conference series with the Lady’Backs. The series begins with a doubleheader on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and concludes with a single game on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Nicholls State 000 00 – 0 2 2
LSU 005 (15)x – 20 13 0
Wagner, Hanson (4), Meier (4) and Eads. Turner and Danos. W – Turner (13-3). L – Wagner (4-10). T – 1:46. A – 557.