Junior pitcher Cody Trahan led the No. 18 LSU softball team to its second victory this weekend against Arkansas, 7-4.
Trahan (7-3) started off hot in the circle, throwing six of her first seven pitches for strikes as she struck out the side in the first.
“She was sharp,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “Everything was working. She was working ahead because she used all her weapons.”
Trahan stayed hot, as she rode a no-hitter into the fifth inning until Arkansas senior infielder Amie Hubbard singled into left field.
Trahan tied her career high with 11 strikeouts, as she gave up three hits and four runs in seven innings.
“I wish she could have closed it out with a shut out because she pitched magnificently,” Girouard said. “She was totally dominating for six innings.”
The Tigers (25-10-1, 10-6-1) struck in the first when junior outfielder Kirsten Shortridge scored from third on the throw to first after freshman shortstop Juliana Santos struck out.
The team continued its offense in the second when Shortridge hit an RBI single and Santos hit a two-RBI single up the middle with bases loaded, increasing the lead to 4-0.
After another run in the third, singles by sophomore second baseman Ashley Applegate and freshman first baseman Anissa Young scored two more in the sixth, increasing the Tigers’ lead to seven.
But the Razorbacks (24-17, 10-8) didn’t go down easily, as they scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, highlighted by a two-out, two-RBI double by junior outfielder Jessica Bachkora.
LSU now has possession of second place in the Southeastern Conference Western Division ahead of the Razorbacks with the win.
TIGERS SPLIT FRIDAY DOUBLEHEADER
The No. 18 LSU softball team split the first two games of its series against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday.
The Tigers (24-10-1, 9-6-1) dropped game one of the doubleheader, 8-7, after freshman relief pitcher Brittany Mack allowed the Razorbacks to score two runs in the bottom of the last inning.
“Not very good pitching,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “Maybe the cold had a lot to do with all the hits tonight on both sides. It was pretty miserable to play in.”
The teams combined for 22 hits in the game – 12 by LSU and 10 by Arkansas.
LSU took the early lead in game two, scoring eight runs through three innings, including a two-run home run by sophomore third baseman Jessica Mouse.
But Arkansas (24-16, 10-7) fired back in the bottom of the third with four runs, making the score 8-4. The bottom half of the inning was highlighted by a two-RBI double by Arkansas junior designated hitter Miranda Dixon.
LSU sophomore pitcher Casey Faile replaced starting junior pitcher Kirsten Shortridge in the third and forced Arkansas freshman shortstop Brittany Griffiths to pop up to her counterpart, freshman short stop Juliana Santos.
Faile pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed no runs on three hits and struck out seven batters.
“Casey did a great job coming in in the second game and giving us some very good innings,” Girouard said. “We’ve got to figure out how to use her more. She certainly earned a lot of respect tonight.”
The Tigers bit again with single runs in the fifth and the sixth innings to end the game, 10-4.
LSU faces Arkansas in the final game of the series tomorrow at noon. The winner of tomorrow’s game takes sole possession of second place in the Southeastern Conference Western Division behind Alabama.
 
—-Contact Jarred LeBlanc at [email protected]