The No. 18 LSU softball team put up nine runs on Southeastern Louisiana, but sophomore pitcher Rachele Fico only needed one.
The Oxford, Conn., native pitched a perfect game Wednesday night as LSU (7-0) cruised to a 9-0 five-inning victory against Southeastern Louisiana (3-3). Fico (3-0) struck out seven batters en route to the third no-hitter in LSU history.
Fico credited her teammates and the Tiger Park atmosphere for getting her through the game.
“Being in this atmosphere, surrounded by my teammates, it’s a great day to be a Tiger,” Fico said. “I love it here. My teammates mean the world to me. It’s amazing I was able to accomplish something like that with them behind me.”
Fico showed up defensively as well, snagging a hard-hit line drive to record the 14 out of the game. Freshman third baseman Tammy Wray said she saw Fico’s perfection coming after the third inning.
“I didn’t say anything, but I knew that she was going to be pitching a perfect game,” Wray said. “No matter where I am on the field, I love playing behind her.”
Wray replaced injured senior Jessica Mouse and has played admirably in Mouse’s place. Wray, who boasts a .450 batting average so far this season, recorded three RBIs in the victory.
Wray’s night included her first career home run, a two-run shot that sailed over the left field wall in the first inning.
“I don’t think it’s going to be the last of Tammy Wray’s home runs,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “She’s a very powerful young lady. I’m hoping she has a ton of confidence now.”
Wray’s blast gave the Tigers a 3-0 first inning lead, which has been a common theme for LSU this season. The Tigers have scored in the first inning in five of their seven games and have totaled 13 first-inning runs.
Fico said scoring early eases the pressure on the pitchers.
“We came in and we slammed the door on Southeastern,” Fico said. “You could see their faces drop in the very first inning, and we kept it up all game. We played the Tiger way.”
Junior first baseman Anissa Young belted a two-run home run in the third inning to boost LSU’s lead to 5-0. Junior catcher Morgan Russell drove home Wray two batters later to give the Tigers a six-run lead.
LSU added three more in the fourth inning before Fico shut down the Lions in the fifth to secure the victory.
The Tigers will now head to Houston this weekend for the Hilton Houston Plaza Classic. LSU will face No. 20 Oklahoma State, Houston, Southern and Nicholls State during the tournament.
 
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Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]