BATON ROUGE – The LSU softball team started the fall season with a pair of strong efforts and took down Northwestern State 9-3 and 3-2 during a twinbill Friday at Tiger Park.
“I was happy because we got all 22 players in the game and gave them equal time,” head coach Beth Torina said. “All of our offensive players got seven innings worth of at-bats, and all three of our pitchers got signifigent time in the circle so it was a great experience for everyone.”
During game one’s 9-3 victory, Ashleigh Kuhn sparked LSU’s offense to a 14-hit explosion. She garnered a 4-for-4 performance and notched four RBIs in her LSU debut. Morgan Russell produced a multi-hit effort and picked up three RBIs.
LSU jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage after a Kuhn, a Northwestern State transfer, connected for a two-run single to right centerfield. After NSU knotted the score at 2-2 in the third inning, the Tigers responded with a Kuhn sacrifice fly during the home half of the frame to regain a 3-2 edge.
NFCA All-American Third-Team and All-SEC First-Team performer Brittany Mack racked up 11 strikeouts during her five innings of work. She finished her evening in style and struck out the side in the fifth.
After the two teams traded runs in the sixth inning, LSU broke the game open with a five-run seventh inning. Russell plated a pair of runs on a RBI-single, while Kuhn along with Alex Boulet and Simone Heyward added RBI hits during the frame.
“I thought we swung the bats extremely well in the first game,” Torina said. “We were really aggressive and did some good things with runners in scoring position. Overall, I was proud that we weren’t satisfied and continued to score runs. As coaches, our favorite part was every time they scored we were able to answer right back each time.”
The second game proved to be a pitcher’s duel and remained scoreless through the first five frames.
NSU grabbed a 2-0 advantage after single runs in the sixth and seventh innings before the Tigers rallied for three runs during its last at-bat.
LSU’s freshmen ignited the rally as Tammy Vermeulen belted a single to centerfield. After a NSU fielding error allowed A.J. Andrews to reach base, Kailey McCasland lined a RBI-single in between third base and shortstop to cut the deficit to 2-1.
With runners on second and third base, the Tigers took advantage of a NSU throwing error from the third basemen to allow both Andrews and McCasland to cross the plate for the 3-2 victory.
Rachele Fico earned the win in relief after Meghan Patterson started the contest with two spotless frames. The 2010 SEC Freshman of the Year allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and totaled 10 strikeouts against zero walks.
“We saw a lot of great things from all three pitchers, and they were able to show some of the new pitches they’ve been working on,” Torina said. “We’re trying to put them into new situations that they haven’t been in before and really use the time in the fall to work on things to get ready for the spring season.”
LSU returns to action Tuesday and plays host to the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Back to School Tour. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. and admission is free to Tiger Park. The Tigers will take batting practice at 5:15 p.m. followed by the NPF players at 5:55 p.m.
The NPF squad will be comprised of athletes from all four of the NPF professional teams (Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, USSSA Pride, and NPF Diamonds). It features several decorated players, including Olympic medalists Andrea Duran, Kelly Kretschman and Caitlin Lowe along with former Canadian Olympic Team members Caitlin Lever and Danielle Lawrie. A pair of former SEC’s All-Americans, Florida’s Francesca Enea and Alabama’s Charlotte Morgan, also highlight the roster.
“I’m very excited for our players to get to be around people who have done so many wonderful things for the game of softball,” Torina said. “The NPF organization not only has quality players but quality people. I’m also fired up for our fans to get to see our team play against some of the best of the best.”
The NPF is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL).