After a steady three wins to open its season on Thursday and Friday, LSU softball dominated the  competition across the final stretch of the Tiger Classic, recording a mercy rule in all three contests on Saturday and Sunday. 

The wins came on the back of efficiency on both sides of the ball, scoring 25 runs while only giving up one across the three games.

LSU took home the second matchup against Nevada, 8-0 on Saturday after only six innings. This marked the second mercy rule of the home tournament and LSU’s first shutout of the season.

It gave the Tigers a 2-0 record against Nevada after the 6-2 win on Friday.

Despite the blowout, LSU took its time putting up the points, not recording a run until the fifth inning. From then on, the floodgates fully opened as LSU recorded three runs in the fifth inning and five in the sixth.

After outfielder Alix Franklin gave LSU its first hit of the contest, utility player Destiny Harris was subbed in to run bases and started off the scoring after a Sierra Daniel double advanced her home from second base. Senior outfielder Jalia Lassiter was then hit by a pitch, putting two runners on base before catcher Maci Begeron hammered a two-run double to right-center field, making the score 3-0 going into the sixth inning.

LSU maintained the momentum from the fifth inning, repeatedly loading the bases, which led to five more runs in the sixth inning, courtesy of three walks and two more on a fielder’s choice.

Before the runs came easy for LSU, the contest had been a tight pitching duel. Sophomore Jayden Heavener recorded her sixth career shutout while logging seven strikeouts.

Heavener also came up clutch in holding onto LSU’s lead at the top of the sixth inning. After two Nevada runners advanced to second and third base, Heavner forced a flyout followed by a strikeout to end that half-inning still in control with a three-run lead.

Nevada pitcher Hailey McLean looked extremely impressive at the start as well, throwing a no-hitter throughout the first four innings along with four strikeouts. Despite the strong start, McLean ran out of gas in the fifth inning, eventually giving up all eight runs and spoiling a promising opening few innings.

After multiple innings of hitless softball, the Tigers were still able to find their footing and come away with a blowout 8-0 victory at home.

“They know they have a great offense and that they are never out of a fight,” head coach Beth Torina said. “There was never any panic, stress or concern in our dugout, honestly. Credit to Jayden Heavener and the defense for making it not feel that way tonight.”

LSU continued its undefeated Tiger Classic run against Illinois Sunday morning with a 9-1 mercy rule.

LSU filled up the bases early in the bottom of the first with a Jalia Lassiter single, followed by two walks for Sierra Daniel and Maci Bergeron. After a wild pitch advanced Lassiter home from third, a big single from Tori Edwards sent Daniel home, increasing the score to 2-0.

Newly transferred pitcher Paytn Monticelli was also put under some pressure in the second inning after two Illinois batters found their way on base. The Tiger defense held its own, getting two straight outs before a Monticielli strikeout ended the top of the first, keeping the LSU advantage.

LSU’s offense then followed up the great defense with a Tori Edwards homer towards center field, sending Daniel and Avery Hodge home from first and third. Big hits and great base running from Franklin, Edwards and Lassiter kept up the scoring, making the game 7-0 to enter the fourth. With all these fireworks, another LSU mercy rule looked very likely.

Harris and Tori Edwards were able to record two runs in the bottom of the fourth, increasing the lead to nine before the beginning of the fifth.

Illinois was able to get its first run of the game after two doubles, but it was all too late. Great LSU fielding put the nail in the coffin on the contest, giving LSU its third mercy rule of the classic.

Despite a solid hitting performance by Illinois, LSU showed great composure and consistency this game, scoring in every inning and fielding well under pressure. Even when LSU’s backs were against the wall and Illinois had runners on base, the unit never seemed to lose control of the game. LSU’s base running was also the best we’ve seen all weekend, with the Tigers stealing six bases.

In the last matchup of the Tiger Classic against Lamar, senior pitcher Tatum Clopton got her second start of the season and started off hot with a quick 1-2-3 first inning, recording two strikeouts.

LSU then wasted no time on offense, with Lassiter recording a double on the first at-bat of the game. She later advanced home after a sacrifice flyout from Daniel, making the score 1-0 to end the first.

Lamar’s hard-hitting catcher, Mackenzie Wright, was able to get the Cardinals their first hit of the game off a double, but Clopton stayed composed and was able to force an end to the inning after a fly out was easily caught by Edwards to continue her big day.

After a scoreless second inning, LSU took back the momentum off a nuke from Tori Edwards, advancing two more runners home. That run marked Tori Edwards’ second of the day and made the score 4-0.

The Lassiter and Daniel hitting duo continued to show out in the fourth inning, with Lassiter getting walked and set up for a run home after a Daniel triple. Daniel was then later advanced home after Harris’ pop-up hit the ground just before the Lamar outfielder could get it. The inning would finish 6-0 after a Tori Edwards groundout and Hutchins flyout.

Clopton was replaced by freshman Ashlin Mowery to start off the fifth inning, but that did not slow the defense down. Mowery forced a groundout and a flyout before the first strikeout of her career ended the top of the fifth inning.

Char Lorenz smashed a double down left field to get LSU’s batting going in the fifth. Lassiter then stepped up to the plate needing one big hit to end the contest with another mercy rule. She’d do exactly that, getting a huge hit towards the wall, sending Lorenz and Rylie Johnson home for the 8-0 win.

This would end up giving LSU its second shutout and fourth mercy rule of the Classic.

The Tigers now look to follow up their perfect start on Thursday when they face off against Nebraska to start the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational.