The LSU softball team pounded 11 hits Wednesday to run-rule Arkansas, 8-0, in five innings and take two-of-three games in the midweek series in Tiger Park.
After splitting a doubleheader and breaking LSU’s 13-game win streak, the Lady Backs could not produce at the plate.
The Tigers (40-11, 16-7 Southeastern Conference) got strong hitting performances from first baseman Christy Connor and third baseman Julie Wiese.
Connor went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored. She was 5-for-8 in the series.
Wiese along with Tessa Lynam were named Louisiana softball writers assocation players of the week. Wiese, who did not get a hit in the first two games of the series, went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.
“I don’t know what the difference was,” Wiese said of her outing. “Maybe she [pitcher Heather Schlichtman] was tired or wasn’t fresh. She still pitched a good game, though. I think we just took the loss last night a little personal.”
LSU scored three runs in the first inning and forced Schlichtman (11-17) out of the game after she pitched only 2/3 of an inning.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead on a RBI single by Connor, then Wiese pounded her ninth home run of the season off the foul pole in left field to make the score, 3-0.
Arkansas (23-32, 7-20 SEC) managed to load the bases in the top of the second but could not score any runs.
Kristin Schmidt (25-10) pitched a complete game for LSU, giving up four hits and striking out five.
LSU coach Yvette Girouard said Schmidt did a solid job in the circle, and she rebounded well from her relief outing in game two, when she gave up three runs. She said the team also improved its concentration at the plate.
“It just goes to show you if we’re focused and in tune with what we’re doing, we can be pretty good right now,” Girouard said. “You go with the hot bats, and sometimes they can cool off. You just have to go with who’s swinging the big stick.”
The Tigers continued the hitting onslaught in the fourth inning. Connor and Wiese hit back-to-back RBI singles to extend the lead to 6-0.
In the fifth inning, Schlichtman left the game after she fouled a ball off the ground, and it bounced up and hit her in the right eye. Schlichtman also was hit four times in the series.
LSU ended the game in the bottom of the fifth after Blair Smith hit a RBI double to score Alicia Owen, and Harris singled Smith in to get the eight-run rule.
Girouard said Connor’s performance has been a big boost to the team.
“She’s starting to swing the bat right now, which is a good thing because Connor is such a huge part of our offense for two years,” Girouard said.
Correction
Yesterday, Reggie Robinson’s weight and height were incorrectly listed at 248 lbs. and 6’3″. His correct weight and height are 195 lbs. and 6’2″. We regret the error.