The last time the LSU softball team met Nicholls State, the game only lasted five innings.
The Wednesday night meeting didn’t last any longer as the No. 25 Tigers (18-12) shut out the Colonels (8-17) in Thibodaux with an 8-0, five-inning victory. The mercy rule came into effect as LSU led the Colonels by eight runs after five innings.
“Everybody’s really happy on the bus,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “We did a lot of really good things [Wednesday night]. Nicholls didn’t play so great, and we took advantage of everything.”
The Tigers capitalized on two errors by Nicholls to string together seven runs in the third inning. Freshman third baseman Tammy Wray opened the scoring for LSU in the second inning with a solo home run, her fourth of the season.
Six Tigers recorded RBIs in the game, and junior outfielder Ashley Langoni said the offense has rediscovered its comfort zone at the plate.
“We’re starting to be a lot more confident at the plate,” said Langoni, who has recorded an RBI in four straight games. “We’re swinging at our pitches.”
The LSU pitching staff dominated, as well, recording its seventh shutout of the season.
Freshman Meghan Patterson and sophomore Rachele Fico each allowed only one hit and combined for 10 strikeouts.
Patterson (6-1) recorded her second win of the season against Nicholls after defeating them Feb. 19 at the Hilton Houston Plaza Classic. Patterson struck out nine in that game, an 11-2 LSU victory.
“We took it pitch by pitch,” Patterson said. “Anyone can beat anyone on any given day. We just have to come through and make sure we pitch well and do everything fundamentally well, and that’s what we did today.”
The game may have been an official road game for the Tigers, but Girouard said LSU fans may have outnumbered Nicholls fans. Patterson added having Tigers fans in the crowd makes a big difference when battling opponents on the road.
“It’s definitely uplifting whenever you make good plays and you can hear people cheering in the crowd,” Patterson said.
The victory boosted LSU’s record against in-state opponents to 59-6. But Girouard said her team can’t take any Louisiana opponent for granted.
“We always preach that any one of those players would die to be wearing the uniform that we wear,” Girouard said.
LSU will face Nicholls again April 6 with hopes of sweeping the season series against the Colonels. Nicholls has not defeated LSU since 1998.
LSU has the weekend off before returning to action Tuesday at Southeastern Louisiana. The Tigers defeated the Lions 9-0 in Baton Rouge on Feb. 16.
Langoni said some players will take the time off to recuperate.
“A lot of us have been sick lately,” Langoni said. “So we have to get over our sicknesses and get healthy from now on.”
 
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Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]