The No. 12 LSU softball team won its 14th-straight game against an in-state opponent with its 5-2 win against McNeese State at Tiger Park on Tuesday.
The victory moves the Tigers’ (37-13, 10-11 Southeastern Conference) record to 10-0 in midweek games and to 26-8 at home.
LSU coach Beth Torina said she was impressed with her team’s aggression at the plate early in the midweek, nonconference matchup.
“That’s always our plan,” Torina said. “When our team scores first, we’re really successful. It gives our pitching staff and our defense a little room to breathe.”
To combat LSU’s strong offensive start, McNeese State (33-11, 18-3 Southland) didn’t have an answer for LSU sophomore pitcher Carley Hoover.
The Cowgirls struck out four times and only mustered two hits in the on Tuesday.
Hoover pitched a complete game and attributed her performance to senior catcher Kellsi Kloss and Torina for “calling a great game.”
“Kellsi was working real hard for me behind the plate,” Hoover said. “Coach was calling really good pitches. I was just trying to put it in the spot and mix it up a little bit.”
While Hoover took care of things in the circle, the LSU offense continued to handle its business at the plate.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, never to relinquish its lead.
LSU would add a run in the bottom of the second and in the bottom of the fifth to pad its lead, 5-0.
Junior first baseman Sahvanna Jaquish was a standout on offense for the Tigers. The Highland, California native was 2-for-4 swinging the bat including three RBIs, which Torina said was because of her plate discipline.
“Just taking it one pitch at time really,” Jaquish said about her offense. “Being smooth and working on the things that I’ve been working on in practice and having a lot of confidence in my team.”
Behind Jaquish, senior third baseman Bianka Bell re-wrote LSU’s history books Tuesday night.
In the bottom of the second inning, Bell eclipsed 469 total bases to claim the program’s record for the most total bases in LSU softball history.
While she was happy to maintain the record, the Tampa, Florida, native said she has eyes on a bigger prize.
“At the end of the day I really want a national title,” Bell said. “All the individual accolades are cool, but I want the team aspect, more so than myself.”
The Tigers’ 11 hits were the most they have accumulated in one game since April 17 against Mississippi State.
In the past during midweek matchups, LSU’s inability to take advantage of runners in scoring position had been an issue this season.
But it wasn’t on Tuesday.
LSU was 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position, which furthered Torina’s pleasure of gaining a win against a “tough” McNeese State team.
“It was a tough game,” Torina said. “McNeese is a tough opponent. There were some things we would probably like to do better, we fought and it’s a quality win for our team.”
The Tigers current seven-game winning streak is its longest since the 18-game win streak, which ended on March 12.
LSU will be back in action again on Friday, when the team travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for a three-game series with the Razorbacks.

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Nicholas Martino

LSU freshman infield, Amber Serrett (17), hits the ball during the Tigers' 5-2 victory against McNeese State on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Tiger Park.