The LSU softball team continued its successful winning streak during the school break, reeling off 12 straight wins and gaining valuable ground in the race for the Southeastern Conference title.
The Tigers (38-11, 14-6 SEC) will face Arkansas in a midweek series, beginning with a doubleheader today at 5:30 p.m. The series will conclude Wednesday with a single game at 7:30 p.m.
LSU swept Ole Miss last weekend behind strong hitting performances from Julie Wiese and Alicia Owen. Wiese went 1-for-2 with a three-run homer in game three to give LSU a 6-3 victory.
Wiese struggled early in the season but said she made some adjustments in her swing and now is hitting .289 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs. Wiese said she also got hitting tips from her brother, former Mississippi State standout Brian Wiese.
“It seems like everything is finally coming together for me [at the plate],” Wiese said. “We have some good momentum going to finish out the SEC schedule.”
Owen hit a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning to win game one, 10-6. The Tigers trailed by three late in the top of the 10th inning but rallied against the Rebels (17-28, 6-16) to tie the game on home runs from Wiese and Camille Harris.
Tessa Lynam (15-2) pitched a complete-game one-hitter in game two, as LSU cruised to a 3-0 win.
LSU coach Yvette Girouard said the team is hitting consistently, and the players have a lot more confidence lately. As the conference schedule winds down, she said the team is peaking at the right time.
“They know what’s in store,” Girouard said. “This is a young team, but they battle until the end. We just try to take care of business on our end.”
Kristen Schmidt (23-9) took the victory in the first and third games of the series. She pitched 18 innings and struck out 26 batters in both games.
“She was kind of off today but is still a remarkably good pitcher to win when she doesn’t have all of her stuff,” Girouard said. “She can look a little rough and then settle down, and that is the mark of a good pitcher. It always helps when her team scores runs.”
The Tigers began the spring break week with their first SEC sweep of the season, pulling out the brooms against Kentucky (9-34, 1-22). The Tigers eight-run ruled the Wildcats in two games, winning 9-1 and 11-1, and shutting out UK, 5-0, for the series sweep.
After two previous rainouts, LSU finally played Southeastern Louisiana Tuesday and earned a decisive 7-0 win. Wiese hit two home runs to lead LSU, and Lynam tossed a two-hitter to score the win.
Wednesday, LSU headed north to Hattiesburg, Miss., and blasted Southern Miss 14-0. Schmidt threw a one-hitter against the Golden Eagles. Harris and Owen led LSU in the rout, with Harris driving in six runs and Owen going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.