BATON ROUGE — For the first time since the Southeastern Conference went to the three-game series format, the fifth-ranked Tigers swept an opponent with three straight shutouts, blanking No. 24 South Carolina, 1-0, at Tiger Park on Sunday afternoon.
With the 300th win since the softball program was reinstated in 1997, LSU improves to 24-7 overall and 9-2 in the SEC. South Carolina falls to 21-11 overall and 4-5 in the SEC. The Tigers will step out of conference play to face Southern Miss on Wednesday with a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. in Hattiesburg, Miss.
“I like the way we are playing right now,” said LSU head coach Yvette Girouard. “With our difficult road schedule in April, it is important to stay ahead while we are playing at home. I like what I see in our team. Britni is in the zone and I would compare our outfield to any in the country.”
All-American Britni Sneed pitched her third straight shutout, striking out 13, while allowing only four hits and one walk. She improved her overall record to 12-4 on the year and remained undefeated in SEC play, extending her streak of SEC wins to 27.
After it took the teams several innings to get things going offensively on Saturday, the teams got the offense going early on Sunday. South Carolina struck with two hits in the top of the first inning.
Centerfielder Jodi Fittro led off the game with a single up the middle.
Designated player Kim Evans picked up the infield single on an attempt to sacrifice bunt when the ball bounced off the glove of a diving Julie Wiese at third base. Both advanced on a wild pitch to put runners at second and third with no outs.
Sneed then stepped up to get shortstop Amber Curtis to ground out the Tiger first baseman Christy Connor before striking out the next two batters to end the inning.
LSU countered with a pair of hits in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Conner drew a walk and Wiese singled to center field. Designated player Erin Johnson then hit an infield single that bounced off the pitchers foot to load the bases, but Megann Steege struck out looking to end the inning.
South Carolina got another hit in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Evans singled to Tiger shortstop Blair Smith, but Sneed struck out Curtis to end the threat.
LSU finally got on the board in the bottom of the third. Trena Peel broke the LSU single season triples record with her 10th triple of the season. She knocked her third triple of the series down the right field line to lead off the inning before scoring on a wild pitch to give the Tigers the only run they would need.
Sneed struck out five of the next nine Gamecock batters and did not allow another hit until the top of the seventh inning.
LSU threatened again in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Connor singled up the middle. Sara Fitzgerald came in to run for Connor before Wiese singled to left centerfield and advanced Fitzgerald to second.
Pinch hitter Leigh Ann Danos pinch hit for Johnson and hit a fly ball to deep centerfield that was caught at the warning track and advanced Fitzgerald and Wiese to second and third. South Carolina pitcher Megan Matthews struck out pinch hitter Tessa Lynam to end the inning.
South Carolina would not go down without one last fight. With one out in the top of the seventh, Debralee Troesh singled to leftfield. After Danielle Quinones popped up to second baseman April Janzen, Adrianna Baggetta drew the first walk of the series by South Carolina. Sneed then struck out Melissa Sandel to end the game.