LEXINGTON, Ky. — A three-run home run by Leigh Ann Danos led the fourth-ranked LSU softball team to the three-game Southeastern Conference series sweep of Kentucky, 6-2, at the Kentucky Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, the Tigers (39-7, 16-4 SEC) have now won 12 consecutive games, including nine-straight SEC road games. The sweep gave LSU its fourth conference sweep of the season and third straight. Kentucky dropped to 21-23-1 on the year and 5-19 in league play.
“It was another good sweep for us on the road,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “It seemed like we were just going through the motions at times today, but we did come away with the sweep against Kentucky in Lexington when a lot of other SEC teams have had trouble with that this year.
“I am looking forward to a week at home. We need to work on getting better at some things so that we can try to end this road swing in a good way at Ole Miss next weekend.”
Danos came up with the big hit for the Tigers in the top of the third inning. With the score tied, two on and two out, the junior catcher drove an 0-1 pitch over the left center field fence to extend the LSU lead to 4-2 as the Tigers went on to win the game 6-2.
LaDonia Hughes and Stephanie Hill both posted three-hit games. Hughes went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Coming on the heels of a 3-for-3 performance in game two on Saturday, Hill finished the day at 3-for-3, with a runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base.
Kristin Schmidt earned the complete-game win for the Tigers to improve to 23-4 on the season, her 101st career victory. She allowed two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts. The senior now needs just six strikeouts to become the 20th pitcher in NCAA Division I history with 1,000 career strikeouts.
Once again, LSU wasted no time in getting on the board. In the top of the first, Hughes reached on an infield single. She advanced to second on a stolen base and moved to third as the throw from the catcher went into the outfield. Hughes then scored on a single through the left side by Hill to give the Tigers the 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats came back to tie the game at one in the bottom half of the inning. Rachel Friberg led off with a bunt single. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. On a hit by Amber Janneck to left field, Friberg went to third and Janneck took second as the ball came back into the infield. An infield ground out by Brooke Marnitz then scored Friberg.
In the top of the third, Leslie Klein led off with an infield single off the third baseman’s glove. She moved to second as Hill was hit by a pitch. On a deep fly ball that was caught in foul territory, Hill moved to second and Klein took third. Danos then nailed a three-run home run, her third of the season to give LSU the 4-1 lead.
Lori Melchi led off with a single to left field to start the bottom half of the inning. On a line drive up the middle by Friberg, the ball ricocheted off of Fitzgerald’s glove at second, allowing Melchi to move to second and Friberg to take second on the double.
On a sacrifice fly to left field by Nance, Melchi scored. Friberg was caught in a rundown between second and third, but advanced to third as the ball bounced off her back on a throw by Fitzgerald. Frieberg was then caught at home on the suicide squeeze as Janneck failed to lay down the bunt. Janneck then grounded out to the shortstop to end the inning with the Tigers leading 4-2.
LSU answered with two runs in the top of the fourth as Camille Harris led off with a bunt single. After she stole second, Hughes reached on a bunt single as Harris moved to third. Hughes then stole second before a single up the middle by Lauren Castle scored Harris. Hughes took third and Castle moved to second on the throw.
Hill then singled off the pitcher, allowing Hughes to score from third. Wiese the popped out to end the inning, but not before the Tigers stretched the lead to 6-2.
Kentucky threatened in the sixth as Friberg singled to left field to lead off the inning. She advanced to second on a fielder’s choice by Janneck as the throw from Schmidt went to Fitzgerald, although Fitzgerald was no covering the base. Schmidt then got Marnitz looking before Meghan Cooper popped out to Danos.
Kendall took the complete-game loss to fall to 7-13 on the season. She allowed six runs, five earned, on 11 hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
The Tigers remain on the road in SEC play with a three-game series at Ole Miss next weekend. LSU will face the Rebels in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. before the series concludes with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
LSU 103 200 0 – 6 11 0
Kentucky 101 000 0 – 2 6 1
Schmidt and Danos. Kendall and Kovacs. W – Schmidt (22-4). L – Kendall (7-13). HR – Danos. T – 2:01. A – 133.