BATON ROUGE — The LSU softball team set a school record with eight doubles in the first game before sophomore Tiffany Garcia pitched the third perfect game in Tiger softball history as LSU dominated Grambling State, 20-0 and 11-0 in five innings, on Wednesday evening at Tiger Park.
With the doubleheader sweep, the Tigers improved to 6-0 on the season, having outscored opponents, 67-1 so far this season. The Lady Tigers of GSU dropped to 0-12 on the season and have been run-ruled in every game this year.
In the first game of the doubleheader, LSU knocked a school record eight doubles, including two each by Stephanie Hill and Vanessa Soto. The mark is also tied for eighth in NCAA single-game history. In addition, the Tigers tied the single-game team record for runs with 20, making this the third time LSU has put up 20 runs in a game. The Tigers also posted the fourth most single-game hits with 19 and third most single-game RBIs with 18.
“This is what we needed to do today,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We were really focused at the plate in the first game and late in the second game. It’s fun when everyone gets their feet wet and sees action in the game.”
In the second game, Garcia (1-0) recorded the third perfect game and 25th no-hitter in school history. Along the way, she recorded a career-best 10 strikeouts. The perfect game was saved in the top of the second inning when Heidi Robin made a diving catch in center field on the only ball that left the infield in the contest.
It marked the first perfect outing since Britni Sneed and Sarah Meadors against Tennessee on March 18, 2001. The no-hitter is also LSU’s second of the season after Dani Hofer threw a no-hitter against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the second game of the year.
“It was great to see Tiffany get the perfect game,” said Girouard. “She had to work her way back from several 3-0 counts but she got it done. Megan Jolly also did an outstanding job pitching a one-hitter in the first game. Killian Roessner does a great job with the pitchers and calling the pitches.”
Jolly (1-0) earned her first win of the season in the first game. The sophomore threw her second career one-hitter as she carried the no-hitter through three and a third innings before allowing the lone hit of the day on a single up the middle by Victoria Patterson.
Camille Harris went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored, while adding a pair of stolen bases on the night. Lauren Castle and Andrea Smith led the team with four hits each, while Castle, Lauren Delahoussaye and Leslie Klein each posted a team-best four RBIs.
Freshman Fallon Fisher and sophomore transfer Shannon Stein each posted their first hits in a Tiger uniform, going 2-for-4 and 1-for-3 respectively. Sophomores Dee Dee Henderson and Heidi Robin each saw their first action in the field, playing left field and center field for LSU in both games.
Kassy Garsee started and took the loss for Grambling State in the first game and fell to 0-5 on the season. She allowed seven runs, one earned, on five hits with a walk in two-thirds innings.
Jackie DeLeon came on in relief and allowed eight runs, six earned, on eight hits with two walks in an inning. Brittany Talley closed out the game, allowing five runs, one earned, on six hits with a walk in two and a third innings.
Talley went the distance for the Lady Tigers in the second game and took the loss to fall to 0-5 on the year. She allowed 11 runs, seven earned, on 11 hits with three walks. No Grambling State pitcher recorded a strikeout in the doubleheader as 12 difference LSU players recorded hits.
The Tigers return to action this weekend as they host the Easton Tiger Classic. LSU will take on Eastern Michigan, Mississippi Valley State, No. 11 Washington and Western Kentucky in the three-day tournament, which begins Friday. The Tigers will face Eastern Michigan on Friday at 3:30 p.m. before taking on Mississippi Valley State in the nightcap at 5:45 p.m. On Saturday, LSU will face Western Kentucky at 1:30 before battling Washington at 5:45 p.m. Championship bracket play begins on Sunday.