BATON ROUGE — Behind a pair of complete-game efforts by Emily Turner, the LSU softball swept a Southeastern Conference doubleheader from Ole Miss, 2-0 and 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Park.
Having won four straight games, the Tigers improved to 25-15 on the season and 8-12 in SEC play. The Rebels dropped to 25-21 overall and 5-13 in league play. LSU moved into sole possession of sixth place in the league, a half game ahead of Mississippi State in seventh and a game and a half ahead of Ole Miss in ninth place.
“That was the game plan and we executed it to perfection,” LSU head coach Yvette Girouard said of the two Tigers victories. “We were hoping that Emily would show up like she did today. We had solid defense behind her and timely hitting. I would have liked to have a little more, but I thought Emily was in complete control all day today. She just did a fabulous job.”
Turner earned both wins for the Tigers to improve to 13-9 on the season. In the first game, she scattered three singles and struck out five while recording her fourth complete-game shutout of the year. In game two, she allowed one run on four hits with nine strikeouts. She 5-0 in her last five appearances, allowing only two runs, one earned, with two walks and 29 strikeouts.
“I think that when you have a pitcher on the mound that controls the hitters and gets K’s that the team has added life,” said Girouard. “It’s automatic. I think that there’s a bounce in their step knowing that the pitcher is going to keep them in the game. Jolly threw well the other night and Emily certainly threw well today so hopefully it’s the start of a roll. These were games we had to have.”
All-American Leslie Klein went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader with a double, three RBIs and one run scored. Stephanie Hill posted a 2-for-5 day with two runs scored, while Lauren Delahoussaye and Lauren Castle each went 2-for-6 in the doubleheader.
“Klein’s swinging the bat well,” Girouard said. “She hit the ball well at Nicholls the other day and in practice it seems like she is coming around. Delahoussaye is back and Hill is starting to hit the ball again with authority.”
In game one, LSU used a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt to score the first run in the bottom of the second. A single to left field by Klein in the third scored Hill to run the lead to 2-0 for the Tigers as Turner retired 15 of the last 16 batters she faced to end the game.
Three runs in the bottom of the fourth gave LSU the lead in the second game. An RBI single by Delahoussaye scored Heidi Robin for the first run before a double to left center by Klein scored Hill and Delahoussaye for the 3-0 Tiger lead. Ole Miss scored its only run of the day in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Lauren Rowe.
The pair will conclude their three-game series with a single game on Sunday at noon. The game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Network in Baton Rouge on Country Legends 107.3 FM. The Tigers will be looking for their first SEC series sweep of the season and its sixth consecutive series sweep over the Rebels, having now won 21 in a row over Ole Miss.
Ole Miss 000 000 0 – 0 3 1
LSU 011 000 x – 2 7 0
Callahan and Justice. Turner and Hobbs. WP – Turner (12-9). LP – Callahan (10-10). T – 1:56.
Ole Miss 000 010 0 – 1 4 0
LSU 000 300 x – 3 5 0
Brill and Justice. Turner and Hobbs. WP – Turner (13-9). LP – Brill (8-7). T – 1:50. A – 836.