NORMAN, Okla. — Behind home runs from Camille Harris and Killian Roessner with a one-hit win by Tiffany Garcia, the 19th-ranked LSU softball team topped Troy, 2-0, before Dani Hofer held off a late charge from No. 10 Oklahoma, as the Tigers upset the Sooner, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at the OU Softball Complex.
With the wins, LSU improves to 19-3 on the season, the second-best start in school history. In addition, the Tigers enter play on Sunday undefeated at 2-0 in the tournament. Troy fell to 11-5 on the season, while Oklahoma dropped to 13-5-1. LSU will conclude tournament play on Sunday as the Tigers face Troy at 10 a.m. before battling the Sooners once again at 12:15 p.m.
Garcia started and earned the win against Troy to improve to 5-0 on the season. In five and two-thirds innings, she allowed just one hit with two walks and five strikeouts. Hofer came on in relief and allowed just one walk in an inning and a third to earn her first save of the season.
A pair of home runs led the Tigers past Troy in the first game. Camille Harris and Killian Roessner each launched one out of the park as LSU out-hit the Trojans, 7-1.
“Two outstanding performances today by our pitchers in the circle,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “Tiffany pitched a fabulous game for over five innings. She totally had the hitters off balance. We got some primetime hitting to score some runs then Dani came on in relief and shut them down.”
Hofer came back against Oklahoma and earned the win to move to 6-2 on the year. Holding the Sooners hitless through six innings, she allowed only one run on two hits with a walk and nine strikeouts, including two with the tying run at second to end the game.
“Dani was just phenomenal for six innings against Oklahoma and absolutely made the pitches when she needed to in a wonderful collegiate softball game that was just as exciting as any one you’ll see,” said Girouard.
“What can you say about Dani?” Girouard continued. “I’ve given her the ball against UCLA, Stanford and Oklahoma on the road. She’s fun to watch.”
Against Troy in the top of the first, the Tigers put runners on first and second, but could not push a run across as Leslie Klein struck out to end the inning. LSU had a runner in scoring position again in the second as Dee Dee Henderson, pinch running for Quinlan Duhon, stole second, but she was thrown out trying to steal third after a wild pitch.
In the top of the third, the Tigers finally broke through with one on the board. With two outs, Harris nailed the first pitch over the left field fence, just inside the foul pole, for her first home run of the season. An inning later, Roessner added to the lead with a home run of her own. With two outs again, Roessner cracked a 2-1 pitch over the fence in straight away center field to extend the lead to 2-0.
Troy got its only hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Caurie Miller hit a bloop single down the left field line that dropped in for a hit. Garcia then retired Miller on a fielder’s choice and Katie Taber grounded out to end the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Garcia allowed back-to-back walks to Angie Coteat and Stacey Dwyer. Hofer then relieved Garcia and struck out Jessica Lyle looking to end the inning. The Trojans got a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh by Brooke Powell, but she was picked off at first to end the game.
LSU came out and took the early lead on Oklahoma in the second game. Lauren Castle led off with an infield single. With Henderson running for Castle at first, Henderson stole second. A passed ball sent Henderson to third before she scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Harris.
In the top of the fourth, the Tigers extended their lead. Harris led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Vanessa Soto. A double to right center by Leslie Klein scored Harris to give LSU the 2-0 advantage. A single by Quinlan Duhon moved Klein to third, but Roessner popped out to end the inning.
Hofer’s bid for the perfect game was broken up in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Jamie Fox reached on a fielding error by Andrea Smith. Hofer then recorded a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Duhon saved the no-hit bid. With two outs, Norelle Dickson reached on a second fielding error by Smith. Amber Spaulding then hit a long fly ball to left field that may have had the distance for the home run, but Duhon went up at the wall and robbed the hit and possible tying homer to end the inning.
Oklahoma broke through with its only run in the bottom of the seventh. Kristin Vesely led off with a home run to left center, breaking up the no-hitter and the shutout bid by Hofer. Samantha Ricketts then singled down the right field line and Jamie Fox was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. With Jade Prather running for Ricketts at second, she was thrown out trying to steal third as Fox advanced to second on the play.
Hofer then struck out Stacia Aleman for the second out. After a walk to Savannah Long put the winning run at first, Hofer came back to retire pinch hitter Susan Ogden swinging to end the game.
“We had some tremendous plays,” said Girouard. “Quinlan’s catch at the fence and the throw out at third was just a huge play because they would have had two runners in scoring position. Klein came up with a clutch hit and Dee Dee had some tremendous base running. The little things are falling into place to make this team a very solid team.”
This is the final non-conference weekend before LSU opens Southeastern Conference action next weekend on the road at Ole Miss. The Tigers are currently in second place in the SEC West behind 17-2 Mississippi State and in third place overall behind the Bulldogs and No. 2 Tennessee.