FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A pair of doubles by Leslie Klein led the fourth-ranked LSU softball team to the Southeastern Conference series sweep of Arkansas with a 10-1 win in five innings at Lady’Back Yard on Wednesday afternoon.
Riding a nine-game winning streak, the Tigers improved to 36-7 overall and 13-4 in SEC play. The Lady’Backs fell to 13-28 overall and 2-19 in league play. The series sweep was the fourth for LSU over Arkansas overall and second straight in Fayetteville.
“I liked the way we came out and set the tone early in this game,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We hit the ball hard and scored some runs in the first inning that pretty much made the difference. It’s good to come in and close out a series with a run-rule win. I was disappointed that we left the bases loaded in the fifth, but overall we got the job done.
“Now we have a long trip back to Baton Rouge tonight before turning around on Friday to go to Lexington for a three-game series with Kentucky. We have to stay aggressive and focused because we are getting closer to the end and every game is important.”
For the 11th time this season, LSU scored double-figure runs, surpassing the 10 games with 10 or more runs in the 1998 season. The Tigers also pounded out 12 hits, including three doubles, for the game.
Klein went 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. She is currently second in the SEC with 15 doubles on the year, five away from the school single-season record. Camille Harris went 1-for-1 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, two RBIs and two runs scored.
LSU put the game out of reach early, putting up four runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Lauren Castle reached on a bunt single. She advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a double down the right field by Leslie Klein. After Klein moved to third on a wild pitch, Lauren Delahoussaye drew a walk. Delahoussaye stole second to put two runners in scoring position.
An infield single by Stephanie Hill scored Klein from third and moved Delahoussaye to third. Hill then stole second before a fielder’s choice by Julie Wiese moved Hill to third and got Delahoussaye trying to score. Hill then scored on a wild pitch as Wiese moved to second. A single down the right field line by Leigh Ann Danos scored Wiese from second to run the score to 4-0 LSU.
In the top of the second, the Tigers tacked on two more runs. Camille Harris walked to lead off the inning. After stealing second, she moved to third on an infield ground out by LaDonia Hughes. Harris then scored on a sacrifice fly by Castle. Klein the doubled to center field. She scored on a hit to center field by Delahoussaye before Delahoussaye was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double.
The five-game shutout streak against Arkansas in Fayetteville ended in the bottom of the second inning. Kallie Foglesong led off with a single through the left side. With one out, Allie Benish, pinch running for Foglesong, moved to second on an infield ground out by Heather Schlichtman. Benish then scored on a two-out single off the left center field fence that cut the Tiger lead to 6-1.
Four runs in the top of the third ran the LSU lead to 10-1. With one out, Wiese drew a walk. She moved to second on a single down the left field line by Danos. After Kristen Hobbs came in to pinch run for Danos, Fitzgerald reached on an error by the first baseman to load the bases.
Harris then doubled to left center field, scoring Wiese and Hobbs. On the play, the throw in from the outfield got away, allowing Fitzgerald to score and Harris to move to third. On an infield ground out by Hughes, Harris scored from third.
In stranding Hill on in the fourth after a single, the Tigers left the bases loaded in the fifth inning without scoring. Hobbs led off with a single through the left side. She moved to second on a single down the left field line by Fitzgerald. With one out, Hughes recorded an infield single that loaded the bases. A fielder’s choice by Castle got Hobbs at home on the force before Klein grounded out to end the inning.
After giving up the RBI single in the second inning, Schmidt allowed only a single in the third before being relieved in the fifth. Emily Turner came on to close out the game. She retired the Lady’Backs in order in the final inning.
Schmidt earned the win to improve to 21-4 on the season. She allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts in four innings. Turner was perfect in an inning.
Sarah Topham started and took the loss for Arkansas to fall to 2-9 on the season. She allowed four runs on four hits with a walk in an inning of work.
Cassy Long came on in relief in the second. She allowed six runs, four earned, on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout in three innings. Blaire Perry closed out the game. She allowed one hit with one strikeout in an inning.
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 424 00 – 10 12 0
Arkansas 010 00 – 1 3 2
Schmidt, Turner (5) and Danos, Hobbs. Topham, Long (2), Perry (5) and Easley.
W – Schmidt (21-4). L – Topham (2-9). T – 1:43. A – 179.