No. 7 LSU got a plethora of hits from Camille Harris and Leigh Ann Danos to easily sweep Jackson State (3-18) in a doubleheader Wednesday night.
Harris, a freshman center fielder from Hendersonville, Tenn., went 1-for-2, with her sixth home run of the year, in LSU’s 8-0 five-inning win in the first game. She was 3-for-3 with two RBIs in the second game, which the Tigers also won 8-0 in five innings.
“I just want to hit, bunt, use the short game — whatever is necessary for my team to win,” Harris said. “Anything that’s beneficial for us to put runs on the board is good.”
Danos went 3-for-6 in the series with a three-run shot, her second home run of the season, in the third inning of second game. She knocked in four runs for the series.
Harris and Danos started both games in place of usual center fielder LaDonia Hughes and catcher Jennie Reeves. Danos started in only her ninth game of the season.
“I was hitting the ball really well tonight,” Danos said. “We had to come out here as a team and take each game like we’re playing the best team in the nation.”
LSU head coach Yvette Girouard said the bench players may get more playing time because of Wednesday’s performance, and the reserves may be the key to livening up bats that have been dead.
“You got to take the opportunity when the opportunity is presented to you,” Girouard said. “Some people that haven’t got to play a lot got to play tonight, and they did a great job. The bottom line is the people who hit are going to play.”
Harris started things off for the Tigers in game one, scoring the first run after reaching on an error in the first inning. She struck again in the third inning, sending a two-run shot over the left field fence to give LSU a 3-0 lead.
“Camille made a statement; she’s swinging the bat well,” Girouard said. “She brings a lot of intangibles to our lineup because she’s so quick and has a ton of talent.”
The Tigers added five runs in the final three innings on RBI hits from Danos, Tessa Lynam, Christy Connor and Alicia Owen. Owen’s two-run single in the bottom of the fifth ended the first game.
LSU (22-7, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) shut down JSU’s bats in both games with stellar pitching performances from Kristin Schmidt and Lynam. Schmidt (12-6) tossed a no-hitter in the first game, striking out 12 batters and walking two. She also struck out eight of the first 10 batters she faced.
Lynam (10-1) gave up only one hit and struck out 11 in the second game. Jackson State’s Heather Shove got the lone hit of the series, and no JSU batter advanced past first base.
LSU scored all eight runs of the final game in the third inning, and Lynam struck out the side in the fifth to end the game.