The LSU softball team bested Nicholls State, 6-1, for its 12th straight win on Wednesday night at Tiger Park, improving to 28-8 on the season.
LSU sophomore pitcher Meghan Patterson got the start and conceded just one run in seven innings on a two-out RBI double in the top of the first inning.
On the play, LSU senior left fielder Ashley Langoni dove for the liner tailing toward the foul line and got her glove on it, but the ball rolled to the fence, allowing a runner to score from second base.
“She almost got the catch, but [the run] really got me pumped up,” Patterson said. “I was like, ‘OK, I’ve got to settle down and get sharper with these pitches,’ and that actually really helped me with them scoring in the first inning.”
The first-inning run broke Patterson’s 18 2/3-inning scoreless streak dating back to Feb. 26 against Alcorn State.
With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Langoni tripled off the right-field fence for her fourth career triple. The next batter, senior shortstop Juliana Santos, tied the game with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Langoni from third.
The Tigers broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five two-out runs on six hits.
After Nicholls State walked Langoni on four pitches, Santos made the Colonels pay and plated two runs on an RBI single to right field.
Santos’ single scored freshman second baseman Rikki Alcaraz, and Langoni scored after Santos got herself in a rundown between first and second base.
Nicholls State isn’t the first team to pitch around Langoni to get to Santos, who relishes the opportunity to come through in clutch situations.
“I just have to really lock in and get it done, especially with two outs,” Santos said. “We had a tie ballgame, in-state school game, I really had to step up and score those runs for my team.”
LSU softball coach Beth Torina said Santos’ success batting behind Langoni may force opposing teams to reconsider their strategies when facing the heart of the Tigers’ lineup.
“People are going to stop doing that as much because Santos is really swinging so well right now,” Torina said.
“People are going to have to start respecting her a little more than they are, and if they don’t, she’s going to continue to win ballgames for us in that spot.”
The Tigers added three more runs in the fifth on a total of six hits to extend the lead to 6-1.
Torina attributed the Tigers’ slow start in the game to this weekend’s three-game series with Southeastern Conference rival Alabama.
“We talk so much about not [looking ahead], but it’s very difficult with such a big game this weekend,” Torina said. “It was even difficult for myself, and I’m a lot older than they are.”
Langoni said the Tigers persevered through falling behind early against the Colonels and can now look forward to the weekend’s contests.
“Sometimes that’s how midweek games go,” Langoni said. “You’re thinking about the big weekend and you kind of look past the in-state schools, but we got the job done and that’s what matters.”
The Tigers travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face No. 2 Alabama, beginning Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
 
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