BATON ROUGE — Two outstanding pitching performances and overall solid hitting gave the fifth ranked LSU Tigers a two-game sweep over the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday in Tiger Park. The Tigers won game one 8-0 in six innings and game two 8-1.
“Once again the pitching was awesome,” said head coach Yvette Girouard. “I thought they were in control. The hitters made nice adjustments and are really seeing the ball well lately. It is fun to coach these hitters right now. Now we would like to finish the special weekend off on a nice note tomorrow. I hope that a nice crowd comes out to honor five individuals that have done so much for this program.”
LSU improves to 46-8 for the season and 23-3 in the SEC. Ole Miss falls to 18-38 overall and 5-21 in the SEC. LSU now has a two game lead over Alabama in the Conference race after the Tide fell to South Carolina, 1-0.
The doubleheader will be replayed at 6 p.m. on Saturday by the Pelican Sports Network on Cable Channel 18.
In game one, Junior Britni Sneed set a new school record with her 28th win of the season. She also threw her fourth career complete game no-hitter in the win. She has two complete game no-hitters this season and has been involved in three more. Sneed also sat down her 300th batter of the season. She had 12 strikeouts to run her season-record total to 301.
The Tigers got things started in the second inning with a lead-off hit by Christy Connor. Ole Miss pitcher Jennifer Hughes promptly loaded the bases by hitting Trena Peel and Julie Wiese with no outs. After almost wasting the chance, Aleshia Perry came through for the Tiger with a bunt RBI single that sent pinch runner Sara Fitzgerald home. Dee Douglas followed Perry with a base hit just over the third baseman’s head to score Peel for the second run of the game.
Erin Johnson doubled to start the bottom of the fourth and scored when Perry reached first on a throwing error by third baseman Amber Slaton. Stephanie Hastings reached first on an error that scored Perry and kept the defense’s attention between first and second to allow Douglas to come home also.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jill Crawford singled to left field to send home Douglas. Hastings then hit her third home run of the season to end the game with a score of 8-0.
The Tiger bats had 10 hits off Hughes, who struck out seven and walked none. Douglas was three-for-four with one RBI and two runs scored. Hastings was two-for-four with one run and two RBI.
In game two, Douglas hit her sixth single in a row to send home Fitzgerald and Wiese. April Janzen followed with a single through the left side to send home Perry. Hastings then laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Douglas and make the score 4-0.
Wiese hit a one out double off the right field wall to send home Johnson from second. Wiese then scored from third when the catcher Phyllis Manley over threw third base on a pick off attempt.
Ole Miss scored a lone run in the top of the sixth when designated player Holly Burris doubled to right field to send home Amanda Lehotak.
The Tigers increased their lead in the sixth when Peel singled through the right side to send home Hastings. Peel then advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third. She then scored on a sacrifice fly by Johnson.
Senior Ashley Lewis improved to 16-3 overall with the win. She allowed only three hits, walked three and struck out seven.
The Tigers had 13 hits off Rebel pitchers Lindsay Price. Douglas went seven-for-eight in the doubleheader with three runs and three RBI. LSU had three doubles from Hastings, Wiese and Schuelke. Schuelke was three-for-three.
LSU and Ole Miss return to action on Sunday in Tiger Park. Prior to the noon start, the Tigers will honor five very special seniors for their last regular season home games in Tiger Park. Dee Douglas, Stephanie Hastings, Ashley Lewis, Jennifer Schuelke and Auburne Ziober will play their last game at LSU.
The Tigers travel to Auburn, Ala. for the final SEC series of the season against the Auburn Tigers next weekend.