HOUSTON, Texas – The No. 18 LSU softball team used an eight-run fifth inning to put a two-game losing streak in the rear view mirror and claim an 11-2 five-inning rout of Nicholls Saturday to conclude day two of the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic at the Cougar Softball Stadium.
LSU’s slap hitters of Jacee Blades, Alex Boulet, Tiffany Shaw and Cassie Trosclair combined to score seven of the Tigers 11 runs. Blades also registered a career-best 3-for-3 performance at the plate, while Trosclair and Shaw notched multi-hit efforts.
“I’m proud of our slappers because they really got the job done,” head coach Yvette Girouard said. “We can create a lot of havoc on the field. It’s been a stressful day, but we found a way to get it done with the people on the field.”
LSU sent 13 batters to the plate in the fifth inning. A pair of Nicholls errors extended the frame and allowed the first two runs of the frame to cross the plate.
Ashley Langoni, Anissa Young and Heidi Pizer followed with consecutive RBIs before Lauren Houston delivered a three-run dinger, her first of the season, to straight-away centerfield to make it 11-2.
Meghan Patterson went the distance and allowed two runs on two hits. The Destrehan native racked up nine strikeouts against two walks to move to 4-0 on the season.
“Meghan was on-point again tonight,” Girouard said. “She gave up the two runs on some bloop hits but was in total control. Her strengths have been making the ball move, and I’ve been really impressed with how she’s handled herself out there.”
LSU used small ball to grab a 3-0 edge during the third inning. Infield singles by Blades and Trosclair sandwiched between a Boulet walk loaded the bases. Shaw and Juliana Santos picked up RBIs on groundballs coupled by another run on a Nicholls passed ball.
The Colonels pulled within 3-2 on an Ashley Ray two-run double during the home half of the frame, but Patterson stranded the runner on an interference call.
LSU squares off with Houston Sunday at 1 p.m. to wrap up the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic. Live stats are available on LSUsports.net. Fans can follow in-games updates via the program’s social media pages at www.Facebook.com/lsusoftball and www.Twitter.com/LSU_Softball.