LSU softball opened up its first day of a weekend at home with two wins against Nicholls and Memphis, stretching its win streak to eight.
LSU’s first win came against Nicholls, where the Tigers took down their in-state opponents 3-1 in a strong defensive outing. The Tigers could have likely won by more, but self-inflicted errors by the offense halted their scoring.
LSU followed up its win with a run-rule over Memphis, which finished 11-4 after a seven-run second inning.
Game 1 of the invitational started slowly for both sides, with neither team getting on base in the first inning.
LSU’s Tatum Clopton and Nicholls’ Ashley Little both started off hot on the mound, with the two combining for three strikeouts, while not allowing a hit through the first two innings.
LSU fielding mistakes allowed Nicholls to take an early lead in the third inning. Nicholls left fielder Laylin Sturm was hit by a pitch, which she then followed up by stealing second base. On the following pitch, a low-hit ball into center field sent Strum home for the first points of the game.
Tiger batters answered the deficit at the bottom of the third by scoring their first run off a double by Jaila Lassiter, which sent Kylee Edwards home after she was hit by a pitch.
LSU then loaded up the bases while on one out, leading to a timeout by head coach Beth Torina to talk to runners with Tori Edwards up to hit. Nicholls’ defense wouldn’t fall under pressure, with Little getting her third strikeout before being replaced. An LSU flyout ended the inning tied at 1-1.
LSU fielding woke up at the top of the fourth, getting a quick three outs off two flyouts and the second strikeout for Clopton.
The Tigers showed promise at the bottom of the fourth, with Bergeron being walked before Gradie Appling was subbed in to run bases.
The substitution did not work as intended, after Appling hesitated on a sacrifice fly by Alix Franklin, leading to two self-inflicted outs for the Tigers. Kylee Edwards got a double while on two outs, but that would be followed up by an inning-ending flyout.
LSU fielding earned a second straight 1-2-3 inning in the fifth. Strong defense seemed to ignite the offense, getting two runners on base, which forced Nicholls to make its second pitcher change of the contest.
The pitching switch was followed by an LSU sacrifice fly, sending Lassiter to third base, before Tori Edwards sent her home with a single. Maci Bergeron hit a clutch single on a 3-2 count, sending Edwards home from second. A flyout by Franklin finished off LSU’s most successful inning of the day at 3-1.
Torina decided to end Clopton’s strong day going into the sixth, replacing her with Jayden Heavner to close out the contest. Heavner would only give up one hit before ending the Colonels’ fifth scoreless inning.
A scoreless sixth inning for LSU would take the contest into the seventh, with Nicholls needing two runs to stay in the game. Heavner and the Tiger defense would not let that happen, as they recorded three quick outs, ending the contest 3-1.
The win kept LSU undefeated against Nicholls all-time with a 26-0 record.
LSU entered its second contest with changes to the lineup, starting Destiny Harris and Avery Hodge instead of Maddox McKee and Ally Hutchins.
Cece Cellura was first on the mound but gave up a walk and a base hit early.
Early fielding struggles let up a run on a sacrifice fly, but Cellura followed that up by forcing a groundout to end the top of the inning, down 1-0.
After a hitless first inning by LSU, the Tigers exploded in the second.
Scoring started off with a one-run homer by Kylee Edwards. Harris and Hodge both got on base, and a double by Lassiter was enough to send Harris home before two walks loaded the bases and sent Hodge home. Tori Edwards grounded a ball to second base, which was mishandled, resulting in another run from Lassiter.
LSU continued its dominant second inning, stretching the lead to four after another walk on Bergeron. A single by Franklin resulted in another two runners being sent home, leaving little hope for Memphis entering the third.
Memphis got a run after a double into right-center field, followed by forcing a scoreless inning for LSU.
Yet, an impressive catch and double play by Hodge ended Memphis’ offensive success.
Tori Edwards started the bottom of the fourth with a double into left-center field, before being advanced home along with Franklin on a wild pitch. The Tigers stretched their lead to nine after Harris nuked a two-run homer into center field.
LSU just needed to hold Memphis to less than two runs to leave Tiger Park early, and Torina let freshman pitcher Cali Deal close out the contest.
Deal recorded two strikeouts and a groundout to put the contest to bed early, 11-4.
The team now looks to close out the LSU Invitational undefeated against Iowa and Memphis on Saturday evening.
