BATON ROUGE — The ninth-ranked LSU softball team erupted for five runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, while freshman Tiffany Garcia threw a one-hitter, to lead the Tigers to a 10-0 win over Grambling State in six innings in the second game of the Tiger Classic at Tiger Park on Friday evening.
With the win the Tigers improved to 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in the tournament, while Grambling fell to 0-13 on the season and 0-1 in tournament play. LSU will face Indiana at 12:15 p.m. before taking on cross-town rival Southern at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday to conclude round robin play.
In other tournament action on Friday, Indiana defeated Southern, 7-0. On Saturday, Grambling will take on Indiana at 10 a.m. before facing Southern at 2:30 p.m.
Garcia picked up the six-inning shutout in her first career start. She allowed one hit, a single in the third inning, with a walk and six strikeouts. Jackie DeLeon started and took the loss for Grambling. She allowed nine runs, three earned, on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Stacey Pearson came on in relief in the sixth inning and allowed an unearned run on two hits.
“I thought that Tiffany pitched a great game,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “She stayed ahead the entire time and seemed to be in complete control throughout the game. I was happy with her performance.”
Freshman Vanessa Soto went 2-for-3 for LSU with three RBI, including her second home run of the season. Freshmen Quinlan Duhon and Andrea Smith each went 2-for-3, while sophomore Kristen Hobbs went 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Junior Lauren Delahoussaye also hit her second home run of the season.
“I think our freshmen have just been phenomenal this season,” said Girouard. “They have really played like veterans for us. They have stepped up when we have needed it.”
With the game scoreless through four innings, the Tigers broke through with five innings in the fifth and five innings in the sixth to complete the run-rule win. LSU also took advantage of three errors by Grambling, scoring seven unearned runs.
In the top of the first inning, LSU led off with a bunt single by Lauren Castle. She stole second and moved to third on an infield groundout by Camille Harris. With one out, the Tigers could not push the run across as Soto struck out and Stephanie Hill grounded out to end the inning.
LSU led off with a single by Smith in the top of the third inning. She was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice with one out as Castle reached. Harris grounded out to end the inning with Castle on base for the second time.
In the bottom half of the inning, Grambling broke up the no-hitter with a lead off bloop single to center field by Jessica Oliveaux. She moved to third on back-to-back sacrifice bunts. LSU ended the threat as Tiffany Garcia struck out Asia Anders swinging.
The Tigers broke the game open in the top of the fifth inning. Killian Roessner led off with a walk. After Dee Dee Henderson came in to pinch run for Roessner, she stole second. A single to left field by Duhon put runners at the corners with no outs.
Smith reached on a throwing error by the third baseman that allowed Henderson to score and Duhon to advance to third. After Smith stole second, Kristen Hobbs doubled down the left field line to score Duhon and Smith and give LSU the 3-0 lead. With two outs, Soto knocked her second home run of the season to center field to extend the lead to 5-0.
In the top of the sixth inning, LSU added five more runs as Delahoussaye started it off with a solo home run to left field. After Roessner reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, Duhon singled to left field. With runners on first and second, Smith singled and advanced to second on the throw as Roessner scored and Duhon moved to third.
After Pearson relieved DeLeon in the circle and Robin came on to pinch run for Smith, Hobbs reached on a two-base error by the left fielder before being thrown out trying to stretch it to third. On the play, Duhon and Robin both scored. With two outs, Harris doubled just behind first base and then scored on a single by Soto.
After Saturday’s play, the teams will be seeded 1-4 based on records in tournament play. The second and third seeds will play on Sunday at 9 a.m. before the top seed faces the fourth seed at 11:15 a.m. The winners of the two bracket games will play for the Tiger Classic championship at 1:30 p.m.
LSU 000 055 – 10 10 1
Grambling 000 000 – 0 1 3
Garcia and Roessner. DeLeon, Pearson (6) and Anders.
WP — Garcia (1-0). LP — DeLeon. HR — Delahoussaye (2), Soto (2).
T — 1:59. A — 439.
Indiana 7, Southern 0
Megan Roark threw the first complete-game no-hitter of her career to lead Indiana past Southern, 7-0, in the first game of the Tiger Classic tournament on Friday at Tiger Park.
Ashley Griffith hit a bases clearing double to break the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning. Julie Hamilton went 2-for-3 for the Hoosiers, while Jennilee Huddleston and Kim Richards each recorded a double.
Roark was two walks away from a perfect game, facing the minimum through six innings. She struck out seven to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Samisha Bledsoe took the complete game loss for Southern. She allowed seven runs, three earned, on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
In the bottom of the second inning, Indiana got on the board. Richards reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Hamilton then struck out, but reached base on a passed ball as Richards moved to third. After Hamilton stole second, a double to left field by Griffith scored both runners for a 2-0 Hoosier lead.
Indiana broke the game open with the five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Huddleston led off with a double to right center. Lauren Hines then reached on an error by the shortstop, scoring Huddleston from second. A sacrifice bunt moved Hines to second. A walk by Rachel Terry put runners on first and second.
With one out and Rachel Carlson pinch running for Hines, Richards doubled down the left field line to score Carlson and Terry moved to third. A single by Bettenbrock scored Terry and moved Richards to third. Back-to-back wild pitches scored Terry and moved Bettenbrock to third. A sacrifice fly by Griffith closed out the scoring for the Hoosiers with a 7-0 lead.
Southern 000 000 0 – 0 0 2
Indiana 020 005 x – 7 7 0
Bledsoe and Jackson. Roark and Deaven.
WP — Roark (2-1). LP — Bledsoe.
T — 1:53.