HOUSTON — In cold, blustery conditions that saw the wind chill dip below the freezing mark, the fifth-ranked LSU softball team defeated Missouri State, 8-0, in five innings behind a no-hitter by Dani Hofer, and knocked off Houston, 5-3, at the Cougar Softball Complex in the Crowne Plaza Invitational.
With the wins, the Tigers remain undefeated at 9-0 on the season. The loss gave the Bears their first loss of the year and dropped Missouri State to 5-1. The Cougars, who are receiving votes in the national polls, dropped to 4-3 on the year.
Hofer (3-0) allowed just one walk against Missouri State, while striking out 10. She faced just one over the minimum, retiring six of the final seven outs by way of the strikeout. It marked the second collegiate no-hitter for Hofer. Last season in her first collegiate outing, the sophomore from Royal Palm Beach, Fla., threw also threw a five-inning no-hitter against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
“It was a very good day for the Tigers,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “I thought Dani was in complete control and threw great earlier today. We were very aggressive offensively and played a complete game.”
The no-hitter was the second for the Tigers this year. Tiffany Garcia threw a five-inning against Centenary last weekend in the Easton Tiger Classic, while Cody Trahan came close with a one-hitter on Wednesday against Louisiana-Monroe.
Against the Bears, Quinlan Duhon extended her hitting streak to a team-best seven games as she led LSU with a 2-for-4 performance with a home run and three RBIs, including the game winner. In addition, Jazz Jackson, Leslie Klein and Vanessa Soto all posted multiple-hit games with two hits each. Rachel Mitchell broke the school record with four walks, topping the previous record of three that was tied 18 times.
Emily Turner earned the win to improve to 4-0 on the season with the win over Houston. She allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits with five walks and a season-best 13 strikeouts.
“This last game was just a great college softball game to watch with two teams scratching and clawing,” said Girouard, “with plays here and there. Houston almost killed us with their speed but Emily hung in there and made some great pitches when she needed to.”
Killian Roessner recorded the only multiple-hit performance against the Cougars as she went 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs. Klein took advantage of her only hit as she pounded a three run home run.
“We had two huge home runs by Klein and Roessner that were the difference in the game,” said Girouard. “The team showed a lot of heart, especially in the last game.”
The Tigers wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. With one out, Mitchell drew a walk. Two batters later, Duhon nailed an opposite field home run of the scoreboard in right field, her third of the year, to give LSU the 2-0 advantage.
With one out in the bottom of the second, Andrea Smith drove a double up the middle. Jackson then came up and single to center field, allowing Smith to score from second. On the play, Jackson advanced to second on a fielding error by Katie Martin.
After Mitchell drew her second walk of the game to put runners on first and second, Klein singled off the shortstop, allowing Jackson to score from second. Duhon was then robbed of an RBI opportunity as she laced a ball into left field that was caught by a diving Jodie Shead.
Soto came up and hit a ball to second baseman Dusti Foster, which rolled straight through her legs, allowing Mitchell to score from second. On a delayed double steal by Soto from first, Klein scored to extend the Tigers’ lead to 6-0.
In the top of the third, Hofer allowed her first base runner of the game with a one-out walk. She then got back-to-back fielders’ choices before ending the inning on a foul out to third on a great catch by Soto.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Soto doubled to center field. On an extremely wild pitch by Melissa Porche, the ball sailed over the head of Kristen Hobbs at the plate and off the backstop and down first base line. The wild pitch allowed Soto to come all the way around from second to score to give the Tigers the 7-0 lead.
LSU closed out the game in the fifth. Jackson led off the inning with an infield single. After she was called out for the runner leaving early, Mitchell drew her fourth walk of the contest. Klein then came up with a single through the right side. She moved to second on the play as Mitchell advanced to third. A single by Duhon through the right side, her second hit of the game, allowed Mitchell to score and give the Tigers the eight-run rule win.
Porche took the complete-game loss to fall to 3-1 on the year. She allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 11 hits with six walks and five strikeouts.
In the nightcap, LSU fell behind in the bottom of the third inning despite not allowing a hit. Courtney Spittler led off with a walk. On a fielder’s choice by Jessica Valis, Spittler was out at second. Valis then stole second. On a throwing error by Smith at shortstop on a ground ball by Katie Bush, Valis came around to score.
The Tigers stormed back in a big way in the top of the fourth inning. Jackson led off with an infield single. On a sacrifice bunt attempt by Mitchell, an error allowed Mitchell to reach first and Jackson to take third. Klein then came up with her first home run of the season to give LSU the 3-1 lead.
Houston got one back in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Elaina Nordstrom homered to left field to pull within 3-2. It was just the first extra base hit allowed by Turner on the season and ended her bid for the no-hitter.
In the top of the sixth, the Tigers again used the long ball to pull ahead. With two outs, Soto drew a four-pitch walk. Roessner then blasted her first home run of the season down the left field line as LSU stretched its lead to three, 5-2.
To lead off the bottom half of the inning, Turner hit Christa Raley, who then stole second and third. On a base hit by Angel Shamblin with one out, Raley scored to cut into the Tiger lead, 5-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, Valis led off with an infield single. Bush then singled to left field and an error by Mitchell allowed Valis to advance to third and Bush to take second. Turner then got a pop out to short by Laurie Wagner, a foul out by Raley and a ground out by Nordstrom to end the game.
LSU will continue play in the Crowne Plaza Invitational on Saturday. The Tigers will take on Texas State at 9 a.m. before facing Indiana at 11 a.m. LSU will close out play in the tournament against Southern Illinois, which is receiving votes in the national poll, on Sunday at 11 a.m.
The Tigers return home to host the Easton Purple & Gold Challenge next weekend. LSU will take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss and Troy in the three-day tournament.