CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The third-ranked LSU Tigers shutdown the Auburn Tigers, 6-0, on Thursday night at the Southeastern Conference Softball Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“I think we were a bit anxious tonight,” said head coach Yvette Girouard. “We were prepared and ready, but seemed anxious at the plate the first couple of innings. After we settled down and hit the ball things went well. Schuelke had a tremendous hit tonight, and Britni was wonderful. And good for Sarah to come in for the last three outs. This team beat-up on her on Sunday, and she came back strong.”
LSU improves to 50-9 on the season, and Auburn falls to 29-31.
The SEC Player of the Year Britni Sneed went six innings in the circle. She allowed only one hit, walked one and struckout 10. With the win, Sneed runs her record to 30-5 for the season.
Freshman Sarah Meadors completed the game for the Tigers. She allowed only two hits and struck out two. The LSU Tigers now hold the record for most strikeouts in a Tournament game with 12.
The LSU Tigers got things started in the bottom of the third. Senior Dee Douglas singled to left field to lead-off the inning, and Christy Connor drove in Douglas with a single to center field.
Freshman Julie Wiese singled to reach base in the fourth inning, and Jennifer Schuelke followed with a home run to center field to put LSU up 3-0. The home run set a team record with 38 home runs this season.
Erin Johnson got an infield single in the fifth inning to knock in Stephanie Hastings. Auburn right fielder Jen Kraemer dropped a fly ball with two outs that allowed Connor and Johnson to score unearned runs.
The LSU Tigers had seven hits of the Auburn pitchers. Connor was two for three at the plate, and Schuelke hit her second home run of the season.
LSU will face the No. 4 seed Mississippi State in game eight of the SEC Tournament on Friday at 7 p.m. in Chattanooga, Tenn. The game will be carried live by the LSU Sports Network on 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge and over the Internet at www.LSUsports.net.