BATON ROUGE, La. – The fifth-ranked LSU softball team got a shutout performance in the circle by Allie Walljasper, while at the same time getting a pair of history-making outings from junior Bianka Bell and sophomore Bailey Landry as the Tigers earned a 6-0 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks to clinch the series Saturday afternoon, tying the 2010 team for the longest winning streak in program history.
Looking to take home its first series win of the year, the Tigers (24-0, 2-0 Southeastern) scored all six runs on nine hits, while the Razorbacks (12-9, 0-2) were held to just four, getting one runner past second base the entire day. So far this weekend, LSU has outscored Arkansas 16-0, outhitting the Razorbacks 18-6.
Bell was the first to etch her name at the top of the LSU record books, as in her very at-bat of the game she connected for her 34th career home run, passing Rachel Mitchell amid a 2-for-4 day with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. She was one of three players on the day to earn multiple hits, as Emily Griggs went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored, while A.J. Andrews went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
“It’s a great feeling and it will be nice to bask in that a little bit. I know I still have a lot to work on, but I am really excited about it,” Bell said.
Later on in the contest in the fifth inning, Landry earned her only hit of the game but one of the biggest in program history as she extended her hitting streak to 16 straight games, passing Andrews as having the longest for any player on the team currently and breaking a six-way tie among the two for the longest ever along with Stephanie Hill and Leslie Klein in 2004 and Dee Dee Henderson and Tayl’r Hollis in 2007.
Walljasper (8-0) earned the shutout after scattering four hits on the afternoon, striking out four with a walk on just 95 total pitches. After allowing a hit in the top of the first inning, the freshman began to make quick work of the Arkansas batting order, retiring the side in three of the seven innings, nearly adding a fourth if not for a single walk in the fourth.
“It was an awesome feeling to be able to go out there for my first SEC start,” Walljasper said. “To have the infield and outfield behind me, and the dugout cheering me on the whole time is a great feeling.”
Allison Stewart (4-3) suffered the loss for the Razorbacks, pitching four complete innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout. Grace Moll came in and pitched the next two innings, allowing three runs, one earned, with a strikeout and five hits.
After two quick outs in the very first inning for the Tigers, Bell stepped up to the plate and quickly drew a favorable 3-0 count. A strike down the plate and a foul tip on the next two pitches made the count full and LSU down to its final strike. Instead, the junior reared back and made a clean connection sending a screamer over the centerfield fence to not only give LSU a 1-0 lead, but the all-time home run record in the process.
“It’s crazy to think that when she was a freshman, we all knew she could set that record. It’s nice to see her actually accomplish it,” head coach Beth Torina said. “I think she has done some great things in this program. She continues to get better and better every time she takes the field.”
After no score in the second, the Tigers came back to bat in the bottom of the third inning and with one out on the board Griggs legged out an infield single to second to take first. Andrews followed by dropping a single to the short corner in right to put two on for LSU. After a grounder allowed the two to move up a base, Bell came through again and ripped a double off the wall in right center to score both to make it a 3-0 LSU lead.
LSU got some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth, beginning the inning with a Kellsi Kloss single, with Taylor Lockwood coming on to pinch run. A catcher’s interference call allowed Simmons to take first to put two on for LSU. A grounder advanced the two runners to the next base after the first out, as Constance Quinn stepped up with a single to score Lockwood, with the errant throw from center allowing Simmons to score to make it 5-0. With Quinn now at third, a single by Griggs through the left side easily scored the second baseman as LSU went on top 6-0.
LSU closes out the series against the Razorbacks on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Tiger Park. The game will be televised live on the SEC Network.
For all of the latest news and information on Tiger softball, visit www.lsusports.net/softball. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/lsusoftball along with @lsusoftball and @BethTorina on Twitter and @lsusb on Instagram.