STARKVILLE, Miss. – Less than 24 hours after earning an extra-inning win, the No. 11 LSU softball team remained hot at the plate as the Tigers exploded for 12 runs on 12 hits to earn a five-inning, series-clinching victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs Sunday afternoon at Nusz Park in Starkville.
LSU (32-13, 7-11 Southeastern) scored in all but the first inning on Sunday, putting up crooked numbers in two, including plating eight in the deciding frame to bully its way past the Bulldogs (23-20, 3-12) to earn its second conference series victory of the season on the road.
“I think this was a big series for us to move this team forward and continue to build our confidence,” head coach Beth Torina said. “I think we’ve been trying to get better all season long, and I like how we improved this weekend.”
While the offense provided the fireworks, the Tigers quietly got a dominating performance in the circle from freshman Sydney Smith (8-2) who held MSU to an unearned run on two hits with three strikeouts in earning her first career SEC win. She needed just 68 pitches to work through the Bulldog order, as on the weekend she pitched eight innings, not issuing a walk with six strikeouts.
“It was a big day for her, getting her first SEC win and she pitched great,” Torina said. “We saw her have a lot of success Friday night and we knew this day was coming for her.”
Five different LSU players earned multiple hits on the afternoon, led by Bianka Bell who went 2-for-3 with her four RBIs coming on a grand slam, her second home run in as many days and ninth of the year. Amber Serrett went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a run scored, as Emily Griggs drove in two and scored once on two hits, Kellsi Kloss scoring twice and Allie Walljasper scoring once as they both had a pair of hits.
After using all but one of their pitchers last night, the Bulldogs used four over the course of five innings on Saturday, as Cori Cooper suffered the loss as she allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits with three walks and no strikeouts. MSU pitchers combined to issue seven walks to LSU batters on the afternoon, with ever pitcher giving up multiple runs.
With an out in the top of the first inning, Griggs lined a single up the middle to reach first. An infield grounder allowed Griggs to move to second, as walks to Kloss and Sahvanna Jaquish loaded the bases for LSU. Unfortunately, a liner to third ended the inning.
In the bottom half of the inning, an infield single put an MSU runner on first, as an error on the catch at second on a sure out put two on. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, as the Bulldogs put on the squeeze that scored a run to make it 1-0.
Constance Quinn reached on an error at short to reach to open the bottom of the second, as a sacrifice bunt advanced her to second. A walk to Bailey Landry put two on, but she was put out on a diving stop at second, but allowing for runners at the corners, setting it up for Griggs who earned her second hit of the game on a shot to left to bring in Quinn and tie the game at 1-1.
In the third, Jaquish got hit to reach first as Kloss came up next and roped a double to the wall in right center to put two in scoring position and extend her hitting streak to eight games, as MSU went to the bullpen. Jaquish was unable to beat out the throw to short on an infield grounder for the first out, but LSU was able to get the next on a Quinn sacrifice fly to make it 2-1. Another double, this time by Serrett brought in Taylor Lockwood to make it a 3-1 game.
Simmons opened the top of the fourth by legging out an infield single to third, then promptly stealing second base to get into scoring position. After a shallow liner to second, Bell legged out an infield single of her own to put runners at the corners, setting the table for Jaquish who lifted one to center field for the sac fly to put LSU up 4-1.
In the fifth, Walljasper dropped a single to center to open the frame, as Quinn followed with a single of her own to center to put two on. A walk to Serrett loaded the bases, forcing an MSU pitching change. A wild pitch ensued allowing Walljasper to come home to make it 5-1. A walk to Landry again loaded the bases, as after an out in foul territory, Griggs earned a walk to bring in another run to make it 6-1 and prompt another MSU pitching change.
With the bases juiced and LSU looking for the shot to put the game away, Bell delivered, blasting a 2-1 count pitch over the wall in right center for the grand slam to put the Tigers up 10-1. LSU wasn’t done scoring as Jaquish walked and got singles from Kloss and Walljasper to load the bases again, as Serrett singled to center bringing in two more as LSU went up 12-1 for the final runs of the game.
LSU will be back in action on Wednesday, hosting the Northwestern State Lady Demons at 6 p.m. at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge.
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.