Before Tuesday night’s game against Southern University, the No. 6 LSU softball team had never hit three home runs in one inning. The Tigers abolished that mark against the Jaguars, and they did so rather quickly. LSU (43-6, 16-3) scored eight runs and knocked in three homers in the first inning on its way to an 11-1, five-inning victory against Southern (13-16, 10-5). This was the Tigers’ 54th win in a row against in-state competition and their 14th win in the past 15 games. LSU had the luxury of toying with its lineup throughout the course of the game. Freshman third baseman Lindsey Hope saw action for the first time in her career at Tiger Park, and freshman pitcher Cody Trahan replaced junior Vanessa Soto at first base in the fourth inning. Junior Erika Sluss also replaced junior Killian Roessner behind the plate midway through the game, and junior Dee Dee Henderson replaced senior center fielder Leslie Klein in the final inning. LSU coach Yvette Girouard said the lineup changes were made to keep her players on their toes. “I want them to always stay hungry on the bench,” Girouard said. “We’ve gone through a rash of injuries throughout this season, so we always want to make sure we know what we have going into postseason play.” Klein’s two-run home run, her first of two in the game, triggered the Tigers’ quick start. Two batters later, junior third baseman Tayl’r Hollis followed Klein’s lead with her fifth home run of the season while junior designated player Quinlan Duhon hit her sixth home run later in the inning. Hollis finished the game 2-for-2 and extended her hit streak to 13 games. She said following the game she was not aware her hit streak stood at a baker’s dozen. Hollis was one of four LSU players to miss significant time this season because of a broken finger, and she said since returning from injury March 17 against the University of Florida, she still experiences some discomfort. “The most trouble that it gives me is fielding,” Hollis said. “As far as batting, it’s OK. It just depends on where I hit. If I get jammed, I feel it, but it’s nothing that keeps me from performing.” Senior pitcher Emily Turner (14-5) started the game for Tigers and went three innings while striking out six batters. Junior Tiffany Garcia relieved Turner and recorded four strike outs in the final two innings of the game. Turner said with the kind of run support she received Tuesday, pitching becomes more fun. “You go out there, and you’re not [thinking]: ‘I have to hold the other team to less than one run,'” Turner said. “[You don’t have] all that pressure riding on your back.” LSU is now 11-0 in midweek contests this season, and Girouard said that mark is a sign that her team has the ability to raise its intensity level when necessary. “I’m proud of them that they can get the job done in midweek games. It’s easy to get up for the weekend. It’s a coaches nightmare midweek.”
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