BATON ROUGE — Freshman Dani Hofer made her collegiate debut with a no-hitter, while senior Lauren Castle belted three home runs as LSU swept a pair of run-rule games on Saturday in the first day of the Easton Purple & Gold Challenge at Tiger Park.
After rain washed out the first day of tournament play, the Tigers (2-0) topped Stephen F. Austin (0-2), 11-0 in five innings to open the season before defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-0) in the nightcap on Saturday. LSU will close out tournament play on Sunday against Northwestern State at 3:45 p.m., in a game that should decide the tournament championship, and South Dakota State at 6 p.m.
“I thought it was an exceptional day for the Tigers,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We hit the ball hard and played good defense. Everyone had a chance to play. The competition gets a little better tomorrow, but overall I was very happy.”
In other tournament action on Saturday, Northwestern State topped UAPB, 15-0 in five innings, and South Dakota State, 6-0. SDSU also defeated Stephen F. Austin, 3-1 to split on for the day.
The Purple & Gold Challenge will conclude with round robin play on Sunday, beginning with Arkansas-Pine Bluff against Stephen F. Austin at 9 .m., followed by SFA vs. Northwestern State at 11:15 a.m. and UAPB against South Dakota State at 1:30 p.m. before the Tigers play the final two games of the tournament.
Hofer began her LSU career right where she left off out of high school. After throwing 15 no-hitters during her senior season, the 2005 National High School Player of the Year recorded the 23rd no-hitter in Tiger softball history. In addition, the Safety Harbor, Fla., native struck out 12 of the 16 batters she faced while walking one and allowing only two base runners on the day.
“Dani was phenomenal today,” said Girouard. “She didn’t get herself into trouble.”
Traditionally a slap hitter for LSU, Castle proved she can also provide power at the plate with three homers on the day, giving her 11 for her career. The right fielder/designated player from Lafayette recorded the 11th grand slam in Tiger softball history in the bottom of the fourth inning against Stephen F. Austin.
She followed that up with two homers against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the nightcap, tying the LSU single-game record. For the day, Castle finished 4-for-6 with eight RBIs and six runs scored for a 2.167 slugging percentage and a .714 on-base percentage.
“Lauren Castle, wow, what a day for her,” said Girouard. “I’m so happy for her because I don’t think I’ve ever had a player work as hard, be as passionate and love the game as much as she does. I am so excited for her.”
LSU as a team had an outstanding day at the plate. In addition to scoring 26 runs in 10 innings, the Tigers posted a .480 team batting average with five doubles, four home runs and a .820 slugging percentage. Junior Leslie Klein led LSU with a 5-for-6 performance, including a home run, six RBIs and four runs scored.
“Leslie Klein hit her first home run in two years,” said Girouard. “She looks like she’s back and she loves softball.”
Emily Turner earned the win for the Tigers in the first game against Stephen F. Austin. The junior recorded her 16th career complete-game shutout, allowing seven hits and one walk, while striking out three in five innings.
After a scoreless first inning, LSU jumped ahead with three runs in the bottom of the second. After adding a third run in the fourth inning, the Tigers put the game away with seven runs in the fourth, including the grand slam by Castle and the three-run home run by Klein.
Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, LSU scored four runs in the top of the first and never looked back. The Tigers added two more in the second, six in the third and closed out with three in the top of the fifth. The 15 runs tied for the seventh most in a single game in LSU softball history and was the first time the Tigers reached 15 runs since scoring 25 against Mississippi State last season.