The LSU softball team found itself in several pressure situations in its Wednesday night doubleheader. They came up with big plays in every one of them. The Tigers swept the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 5-2 and 2-1, in a pair of dramatic games Wednesday night at Tiger Park. Big plays were key for the Tigers (29-4, 8-0 SEC), especially on defense. “Every play we made was very important,” said senior shortstop Tayl’r Hollis. “They were just big time plays when we needed them.” The Tigers raced out to a 5-1 lead in the first game, scoring two runs in the first and third innings and one in the second. The lead shrank to 5-2 after right fielder Jessie Spain hit a solo home run over the left field fence in the fifth inning. In the top of the sixth inning, junior pitcher Dani Hofer gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases. She struck out Bulldog catcher Chelsea Bramlett to end the inning. Hofer (16-2) pitched a complete first game, giving up two runs on eight hits and 12 strikeouts. Sophomore pitcher Cody Trahan (10-1) started the second game for the Tigers, giving up one run on 11 hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Mississippi State (26-11, 4-7) racked up 19 hits but scored only three runs in the doubleheader. The fourth inning proved to be pivotal in the second game. In the top of the fourth, freshman outfielder Jazz Jackson threw a dart from center to home to tag out Jessie Bailey to end the inning. “I was trying to keep the throw down,” Jackson said. “I had just been yelled at the first game [by Coach Girouard] for throwing the ball too high.” In the bottom of the inning, Quinlan Duhon doubled to deep left center, then was pinch run for by Tiffany Shaw. Tayl’r Hollis then singled to left field, scoring Shaw and giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. Hollis also provided a big play at the end of the game, coming up with an unassisted double play to record the first two outs after the bases were loaded. Hollis caught a line drive then tagged second base to knock out lead-runner Brittany Bell. “I saw the girl off the bag,” Hollis said. “I was trying to get two outs as quick as possible.” LSU coach Yvette Girouard said Hollis’ play was exactly what she was looking for in that situation. “Right before that pitch, I said hopefully this flapper can hit into a line-drive double play,” Girouard said. “If she puts the ball on the ground, they probably score a run.” Girouard said LSU played “flat,” especially for a Southeastern Conference series. “We kind of matched the other dugout’s enthusiasm at times,” Girouard said. “We’ve got to be able to generate that [enthusiasm] ourselves.” The Tigers finished with seven runs on 17 hits. Senior Quinlan Duhon finished 2-for-3 in both games with an RBI in the first game. Senior designated player Dee Dee Henderson collected two hits and an RBI in the first game.
—-Conact Robert Stewart at [email protected]