FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The fourth-ranked LSU softball team took a pair of shutout victories from Arkansas on the road, 7-0 and 8-0, at Lady’Back Yard on Tuesday night.
The Tigers improved to 35-7 overall and 12-4 in SEC play while the Lady’Backs fell to 13-27 overall and 2-18 in league play. LSU will go for its second-consecutive series sweep of Arkansas in Fayetteville on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
With the two shutout victories the Tigers have not allowed a run by the Lady’Backs in Fayetteville since 1999, having won five straight games over Arkansas without allowing a run.
“I am pleased that we came away with two wins tonight,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “I wasn’t pleased with the way we hit the ball in the first game, but we took advantage of our opportunities and made them pay for their mistakes. In the second game, I was very pleased with the way we came out and hit the ball, especially against (Heather) Schlichtman, after she had held us to one hit in five innings in the first game.
“I thought Kristin (Schmidt) pitched very well tonight. She got into a little trouble in the first inning, but after that she shut them down. Emily (Turner) came out and pitched well in the second game for us. Now we just have to come out here tomorrow and close out the series.”
Camille Harris led the Tigers with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate. The sophomore recorded a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored. LaDonia Hughes went 4-for-8 with a double and four runs batted in for the doubleheader.
Leslie Klein had a 3-for-7 day with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Sara Fitzgerald went 2-for-5 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and four runs scored.
After hitting the first batter of the game the allowing a bunt base hit, Schmidt retired 18 straight before allowing a bloop single to left field to lead off the seventh inning. She then got three straight outs to end the game and earn her 20th win of the season.
With her eighth shutout of the season, Schmidt improved to 20-4 on the year and moved into sixth place in SEC history in complete-game shutouts. The senior struck out 10, her eighth double-figure strikeout performance of the season, while allowing just two hits with no walks.
After the Tigers were retired in order in the first two innings, Leigh Ann Danos reached on a throwing error by the shortstop and advanced to second. Sara Fitzgerald then reached on a muffed throw by the first baseman as Lauren Uhle, pinch running for Danos, advanced to third.
Fitzgerald then stole second to move a pair of runners into scoring position. A single off of the shortstop by LaDonia Hughes with one out scored Uhle and Fitzgerald to give the Tigers the 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, LSU added another run. With one out, Fitzgerald once again reached on an error and advanced to second and the shortstop threw the ball away. A sacrifice bunt by Harris moved Fitzgerald to third before Hughes reached on an error, allowing Fitzgerald to score from third.
The Tigers then broke it open with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Lauren Castle led off with a walk before Leslie Klein drew a walk. The pair moved to second and third on a wild pitch before Lauren Delahoussaye knocked both in on a double down the left field line. A single up the middle by Stephanie Hill scored Delahoussaye.
Julie Wiese then drew a walk before Hill and Wiese moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Leigh Ann Danos then walked to load the bases. A sacrifice fly to left field scored Hill to run the score to 7-0.
Heather Schlichtman started and took the loss for Arkansas, despite allowing just one hit. She allowed three unearned runs with seven strikeouts to fall to 11-17 on the year.
Blaire Perry came on in relief in the sixth and allowed three runs on one hits with two walks without recording an out. Sarah Topham threw one inning, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. Cassy Long closed out the game, throwing one inning, allowing one hit with one strikeout.
In the second game, LSU got on the board in the top of the third inning. Fitzgerald led off with a triple to right field. Camille Harris followed that with a triple to right center field that scored Fitzgerald. A double off of Schlichtman by LaDonia Hughes scored Fitzgerald. On a soft line drive to shortstop, Hughes was doubled off of second base. Klein then hit her 10th home run of the season to left field to give the Tigers the 3-0 lead.
Three walks with two outs in the top of the fourth led to a fourth run for LSU. Schlichtman walked Danos, Fitzgerald and Harris in order with two outs before an infield single by Hughes scored Uhle, pinch running for Danos, from third.
With one out in the top of the sixth inning, Harris singled to center field. On an infield single by Hughes, Harris advanced to second. With two outs, Klein singled up the middle to score Harris from second to run the score to 5-0.
After allowing a single in the second and one in the third, Tiger pitcher Emily Turner retired eight straight before Candice Swan reached on a throwing error by Delahoussaye. A single down the left field line by Mindy O’Malley put runners on first and second.
They moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel LeMaster to put runners in scoring position for the first time in the game. Turner then got Shana Easley to strike out to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh inning LSU closed out its scored with three more runs. With one out, Julie Wiese was hit by a pitch. She advanced to second on a single up the middle by Danos. On a double to right field by Fitzgerald, Wiese scored and Danos moved to third. A single to center field by Harris scored Danos and Fitzgerald to run the score to 8-0.
With her seventh shutout of the season, Tuner earned the win for LSU to improve to 14-3 on the season. She scattered five hit in the complete-game while striking out six and not allowing a walk.
Schlichtman once again too the loss for Arkansas, falling to 11-18 on the year. She allowed four runs on five hits in four innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
Long came on in relief in the fifth. She went two and a third innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with a strikeout. Perry closed out the final two outs of the game.
LSU will remain on the road this weekend with a three-game road trip to Kentucky. The Tigers will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon (CDT). The series will conclude with a single game on Sunday at noon (CDT).
LSU 002 014 0 – 7 4 0
Arkansas 000 000 0 – 0 2 4
Schmidt and Danos. Schlichtman, Perry (6), Topham (6), Long (7) and Easley.
W – Schmidt (20-4). L – Schlichtman (11-17). T – 2:12.
LSU 003 101 3 – 8 13 1
Arkansas 000 000 0 – 0 5 1
Turner and Danos. Schlichtman, Long (5), Perry (7) and Easley. W – Turner
(14-3). L – Schlichtman (11-18). HR – Klein. T – 1:58. A – 180.