LEXINGTON, Ky. — Four RBI by Leslie Klein led the 13th-ranked LSU softball team to a 6-1 win over Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at the UK Softball Complex, completing the three-game Southeastern Conference series sweep of the Wildcats amid a second day of snow flurries.
With the win, the Tigers improved to 31-5 on the season and 7-2 in league play. Kentucky fell to 14-16 on the season and 2-10 in conference action. LSU is now in second place in the SEC Western Division and in third place overall in the league standings.
“It was a great sweep for the Tigers,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “We did what we intended to do for the weekend. The team hit the ball extremely well all weekend. The pitchers did a good job in tough conditions.”
Klein led the Tigers with a 2-for-3 performance from the plate, including a home run, a walk, a run scored and four RBIs, accounting for four of LSU’s six runs on the day. Camille Harris also tied the Tiger career hit-by-pitches record with her 28th, posting her third consecutive game with a hit-by-pitch.
“Leslie Klein came up with a huge hit today,” said Girouard. “Camille Harris has just been a warrior for us. She is battered and bruised, but she continues to make plays. It was a good sweep.”
The Tigers broke open a scoreless game in the top of the fourth inning. Andrea Smith led off with a double to left field that was just shy of clearing the fence. With Heidi Robin pinch running for Smith at second, Lauren Castle hit an infield single. A wild pitch sent Robin and Castle to second and third. A walk by Harris loaded the bases.
On a sacrifice fly to right field by Vanessa Soto, Robin scored from third as Castle advanced to third. Klein then nailed her fourth home run of the season to left center to extend the lead to 4-0 in favor of LSU.
In the bottom of the inning, Kentucky got one run back. With one out, Ashley Dimkich drew a walk. A single by Brooke Marnitz put runners on first and second. With Ali Ray running for Dimkich, a fly ball to center field scored Ray from second on a throwing error by Andrea Smith at shortstop on the relay.
The game went along without another run until the top of the seventh. With one out, Castle drew a walk. Four consecutive singles by Harris, Soto, Klein and Duhon scored Castle and Harris to extend the lead to 6-1.
Emily Turner earned the complete-game win for LSU to improve to 12-2 on the season. She allowed one unearned run on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
For Kentucky, Samantha Allen started and took the loss to fall to 1-1 on the year. She allowed four runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout in four innings. Jessica Trueblood came on in relief and allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout in three innings.
The Tigers return home and will play a mid-week game against Centenary on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Tiger Park. LSU will then take on South Carolina in a three-game SEC series at home beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday and concluding with a single game on Sunday.