PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – LSU senior catcher Kellsi Kloss became the first player ever to hit two grand slams in a game, while also setting the school record for RBIs in a contest with nine as LSU defeated Bethune-Cookman 16-2 in five innings Friday night at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
After scoring four runs in the very first inning, LSU (5-2) scored six in the fourth and fifth innings paced by Kloss’ home runs as the Tigers scored a season-high 16 runs on season best 13 hits to blow past Bethune-Cookman (3-4) in the later stages of the contest.
LSU had three players finish with multiple hits, led by Kloss who went 3-for-3 with her nine RBIs and three runs scored, followed by Amber Serrett who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Bailey Landry who was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. LSU was able to light up the scoreboard with extra-base hits, as Sandra Simmons hit her first home run of the season, while Quinn added a triple for her only hit and doubles coming from Bianka Bell, Elyse Thornhill and Serrett.
The Tigers were the beneficiaries of 10 walks on the night, as Bell and Jaquish each recorded three, as Bell was 1-for-1 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while Jaquish scored three times. Emily Griggs was walked twice and scored twice with a hit.
Not dishing out any walks for LSU was starting pitcher Baylee Corbello (2-0) who struck out seven and allowed just two runs on three hits, needing just 72 pitches to earn the complete-game victory. After allowing two hits in the first, she went on to retire the next 11 batters in a row before giving up just one more hit for the rest of the game.
The Tigers wasted little time in getting its offense going in the second game of the day, as Griggs drew a walk to take first in the top of the first inning. Unfortunately, a double-play liner put two outs on the board quickly, but not before Jaquish drew a walk and was brought in after a ripped Bell shot to the gap in left center giving LSU a 1-0 lead.
Kloss came up to bat next and legged out an infield single to short, scoring Bell to make it 2-0 LSU. The Tigers struck again, getting a triple to the gap in right center from Quinn to make it 3-0, as the errant throw from right allowed Quinn to score making it 4-0.
In the bottom half of that same inning with one out, an infield single put one on for BCU as the next batter hit one over the fence for the two-run home run to cut LSU’s lead to 4-2.
After some scoreless innings by both sides, Simmons decided to peel one back for LSU, drilling one to dead center for the solo shot to give LSU a 5-2 lead over BCU.
Griggs earned another walk to reach first, as Landry singled up the middle to put two on. A walk to Jaquish loaded the bases, with another walk to Bell bringing in Griggs to make it 6-2. It set the table for Kloss, who ripped one to deep left, clearing the fence for the grand slam to give LSU a 10-2 lead.
Sydney Bourg came on to pinch hit and earned her first base knock of the season on a single to right field, but on the next play was put out on a double play to put two outs on the board for the Tigers. Griggs came back to put LSU back on the bases with a single up the middle, as Landry also singled to put two on.
Jaquish was walked again and it prompted a BCU pitching change, but it did little as Bell was walked to bring in Griggs and make it 11-2. Just as she did in the previous inning, Kloss struck again and belted one deep over the fence for her second grand slam of the day to make it 15-2 Tigers.
Thornhill doubled to center in the very next at-bat, and Serrett followed suit with a double of her own to drive in the freshman to make it 16-2 for the final run of the game.
LSU will be back in action on Saturday, taking on UCSB at 5 p.m. CT and UCF at 7:30 p.m. CT in Palm Springs.
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