The No. 23 LSU softball team snapped its four-game skid Tuesday night, beating McNeese State, 2-1, in the first of a five-game homestand.
The victory gave the Tigers (30-13) their 30th win this season and a three-game season sweep of in-state foe McNeese State (25-13).
“Getting the 30th one, that’s something special,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “We’re glad to make it to that mark, and hopefully we can keep climbing from there.”
LSU sophomore pitcher Meghan Patterson earned her fourth win in four starts, despite allowing one or more base runners in each inning.
“She started really rough, but was able to figure some things out and finish a lot stronger than she started,” Torina said.
Patterson issued two walks in the first inning to load the bases, but she got an inning-ending punch-out to keep the Cowgirls off the board.
The Destrehan, La., native allowed six free passes in all, but stranded 12 base runners over seven innings.
“Patty has been working really hard for us and it definitely showed tonight,” said senior second
baseman Cassie Trosclair. “She pitched her butt off tonight, and I’m proud of her.”
McNeese State pitcher Bianca Lilly held the Tigers without a hit until the fourth inning, when LSU senior left fielder Ashley Langoni ripped a two-out double to right-center field.
LSU senior shortstop Juliana Santos scorched the next offering just over the third base bag for an RBI double, scoring Langoni from second.
“We were just really focusing on zoning up and hitting something square,” Santos said. “Lang and I were able to do that and get us on the board.”
Trosclair tacked on another two-out run for the Tigers in the bottom of the fifth, a tally that proved essential.
LSU sophomore third baseman Tammy Wray started the Tigers’ half of the fifth with a double off the left-field fence. Freshman Tammy Vermeulen came on to pinch-run for Wray, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Trosclair’s RBI single to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead through five innings.
After battling injuries most of the season, Trosclair provided the Tigers’ game-deciding run in just her eighth start of the season.
“It was nice to see her get an opportunity and get it done,”
Torina said.
McNeese State cut the Tigers’ lead to one in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from pinch-hitter Tiffany Denham.
Cowgirls catcher Ashley Modzelewski scored on the play after LSU junior catcher Lauren Houston made a diving catch near the backstop, allowing Modzelewski to advance to second base.
Patterson induced a pop-up on the infield to preserve LSU’s 2-1 lead and put the Tigers back in the win column.
“We’ll take it any way we can get it, especially late in the year,” Torina said.
LSU returns to action
Wednesday at 6 p.m. against No. 22 Florida State (38-10) in a game rescheduled from Feb. 15 due to weather.
“They’re ranked ahead of us, so taking a game from them will definitely help us,” Santos said. “Not only in the rankings and the RPI, but just in
confidence.”
 
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Contact Scott Branson at [email protected]