FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The No. 18 LSU softball team came away with a 7-4 victory over Arkansas Saturday in the rubber game of a SEC weekend series at Bogle Park.
With the series win, the Tigers (25-10-1, 10-6-1 SEC) strengthen its grasp of second place in the SEC Western Division.
Cody Trahan went the distance and mowed down a season-best 11 strikeouts. She retired 13 of the first 14 batters she faced and carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning.
Arkansas (24-17, 10-8) scored four runs in the seventh on a pair of two-run hits by Brittany Griffiths and Jessica Bachkora for the final margin of 7-4.
“It was a statement game for us to come back after what happened in game one of the series,” head coach Yvette Girouard said. “We weren’t sure whether or not Cody was going to be able to pitch. She hit her spots, got ahead in the count and that allowed her to use her weapons.”
Eight of the nine batters for LSU recorded hits as the Tiger offense capped an impressive weekend with its third straight double-digit hit effort. LSU tallied a .361 batting average and racked up 35 hits.
The Tigers manufactured a run in the first inning as Kirsten Shortridge and Jazz Jackson reached base on a hit batter and a walk, respectively.
A double steal moved the duo into scoring position and Shortridge alertly scored on a dropped third strike when Arkansas catcher Whitney Cloer threw down to first base for the game’s first run.
LSU tacked on a three more runs in the second inning. Anissa Young knocked a double into the left centerfield gap. Morgan Russell added a single and Jessica Mouse drew a walk to load the bases setting the table for RBI-singles from Shortridge and Juliana Santos to make it 4-0.
The Tigers added an unearned run in the fourth inning as Jessica Mouse knocked a single through the left side to push the advantage to 5-0. Ashley Applegate and Young cranked RBI-singles in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 7-0.
“It’s nice to see our hitters make adjustments and show our depth as a line-up from top to bottom,” Girouard said. “We’re scoring runs in primetime situations, especially with two outs.”
LSU returns home for a Wednesday doubleheader against Southeastern Louisiana. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. and both games will be broadcasted live on The X 104.5 and 104.9 FM in the Baton Rouge area. Patrick Wright and Kent Lowe are set to call all of the action and live stats also are available on LSUSports.net.