The No. 13 Lady Tigers softball team rode an eight-run explosion in the first inning to victory Wednesday night against Nicholls State.
The Tigers opened the scoring when senior Nicholls State pitcher Ashton Bennett walked freshman catcher Kellsi Kloss with the bases loaded. The Tigers proceeded to score seven more runs during the inning.
The scoring continued when LSU freshman infielder Sandra Simmons doubled, bringing home freshman infielder Bianka Bell and sophomore outfielder A. J. Andrews.
Junior Jacee Blades capped off the hitting for the Tigers with a double to left center, driving in two runs.
“I was excited to just swing away,” Blades said. “Since my teammates had gotten on base it gave me the opportunity; without them I would have had to play my small game a little more.”
LSU coach Beth Torina said the Tiger bats were helped out by a return to their home stadium, Tiger Park.
“What a relief to be home,” Torina said. “It’s awesome just being in front of the Tiger fans, which are the best in the nation.”
The first-inning scoring run came as a surprise to the Tigers, as Bennett held LSU to one run on five hits in a Feb. 17 matchup.
Torina cited the Tigers’ solid play Sunday against Mississippi State as a catalyst for LSU’s hot start. LSU scored nine runs on nine hits in the last game of the series against the Bulldogs.
The game turned into a defensive battle from there as the Tigers’ bats cooled while LSU junior pitcher Ashley Czechner limited Nicholls State to only one hit.
“My primary focus was to throw a lot of strikes and not give up too many leadoff walks,” Czechner said. “The umpire’s strike zone was a little tight, so I was trying not to get frustrated.”
Czechner only allowed two base runners after the first inning. She gave up her only walk when she hit freshman outfielder Danielle Phillips with a pitch in the fifth inning.
The game ended in the fifth inning when Nicholls State junior outfielder Alaina Guidry drove a ball into shallow center, which Andrews scooped up with a spectacular diving catch.
The Tigers will continue their season this weekend against Southeastern Conference opponent No. 17 Kentucky.
“I was excited to just swing away…since my teammates had gotten on base it gave me the opportunity, without them I would have had to play my small game a little more.”
