NORMAN, Okla. — The No. 8 LSU softball team defeated Wichita State 13-5 in five innings and upset No. 5 Oklahoma 3-0 snapping their 27 game home-winning streak to go undefeated in day one of the OU/Worth Invitational bringing the Tiger record to 18-4.
“I am really pleased with the level of play that our girls came out with tonight against two good teams,” said head coach Glenn Moore. “Our pitchers performed at high level across the board getting the job done. The hitters have improved, and I feel our team has reached a new level of play that will take us far this season.”
In first inning against Wichita State, LSU scored eight runs on three hits off pitcher Courtney Crumbliss who had two fielding errors that allowed the lead-off Dee Douglas and second batter Steph Hastings on base. Shortstop Tara Asbill then hit a three run homer off the scoreboard in left field to score the first three runs of the game. She moved ahead by two in the home run race between herself and third baseman Ashlee Ducote with 19 career home runs and four for the season. Right fielder Trena Peel also doubled to pick up two RBI in the inning.
The Shockers answered back in the bottom of the first with two runs by left fielder Lisa Clary and short stop Tina Lewis. The Tigers quickly retired the inning with an impressive pitcher to short stop to first base double play.
LSU scored again in the top of the third when Ducote tripled to score Asbill and was hit in by designated hitter Megann Steege. Steege then scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Shaunte’ Fremin putting the Tigers up 11-2.
Wichita State also scored a run in the bottom of the third when Lewis singled and made it home on a double by Patti Oleson making the score 11-3.
Peel scored in the top of the fifth for LSU on a double by Fremin, and left fielder Tayrn Perry then picked up the RBI single when Fremin scored bringing the score to13-3.
The Shockers two runs in the bottom of the fifth were not enough, and LSU won the game in five innings due to the eight run mercy ruling.
Pitcher Julie Stashko picked up the win improving her record to 4-0 for the season with three strikeouts.
In the night cap against the host Sooners in 35 degree weather, the Tigers battled the strong, gusty winds with a wind chill of 20 degrees to upset the fifth ranked team 3-0 for their eighth Tiger shutout of the season.
LSU pulled ahead of Oklahoma in the top of the fourth when Ducote doubled to left field to drive in Asbill for the first run of the game. Center fielder Stacey Newton picked up the RBI when she properly executed a squeeze bunt to reach first and score Ducote. The Tigers led 2-0 going into the bottom of the fourth.
In the top of the seventh, Peel reach on a walk by Sooner pitcher Jennifer Stewart and scored on a hit by second baseman Hastings to bring the Tigers’ lead to 3-0.
Tiger pitcher Ashley Lewis went five innings for the win improving her record to 7-2 with four strikeouts and only three hits. Pitcher Britni Sneed came in during the sixth for LSU to pick up her third save of the year with four strikeouts and no hits.
The Tigers had eight hits against Stewart, who only had one strikeout.
LSU faces No. 12 Southern Miss. tomorrow at 1:30 in their only game of the day.
Game 1 Box score
Game 2 Box score