It didn’t take long for the No. 7 LSU softball team to storm by Stephen F. Austin for a 14-0 win in the final game of the Purple and Gold Challenge at Tiger Park on Sunday.
LSU (21-0) scored eight runs in the first inning and continued to build on that lead as the game progressed, giving the Ladyjacks (6-10) no chance at a comeback.
“It’s really disheartening [for the other team] when you put that many runs up early … so it’s definitely a big momentum builder for us,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “It’s nice they’re capable of something like that.”
Senior center fielder A.J. Andrews scored in the bottom of the first inning to open up scoring when an errant throw on a Bailey Landry single sent the Florida native across homeplate. A sacrifice fly by sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish extended LSU’s lead to 2-0 just a few plays later.
The Tigers then staged a six-run offensive barrage with two outs to give them all the runs they would need to take the Ladyjacks down in only five innings.
Junior designated player Dylan Supak doubled to bring in two more LSU runs, stretching the lead to 4-0.
In her second at bat of the inning, Andrews lined a standup triple off the centerfield wall to score three of her six RBIs on the day.
A single from junior shortstop Bianka Bell capped the scoring and gave LSU an 8-0 lead after one inning.
The Tigers produced six hits in the first inning on their way to a grand total of 13 on the day — one shy of the season-high mark they set against Northwestern State on Saturday.
The Tigers added a run in the bottom of the second inning thanks to an Andrews RBI double, pushing the Tigers’ lead to 9-0.
LSU’s offense exploded again in the bottom of the third inning for five more runs.
This time Bell and junior Jenna Kreamer singled before junior first baseman Sandra Simmons followed with her first home run of the season, a shot just inside the right field foul pole, to stretch the lead to 12-0.
Simmons said she remained steady and focused on moving runners over, and the ball happened to carry.
Andrews’ second triple of the game scored LSU’s final two runs and gave the Tigers what would eventually become the final 14-0 score after just three innings of play.
Sophomore pitcher Kelsee Selman protected the lead the entire game. She only allowed two hits and didn’t give up a run in five innings of work. Selman finished with five strikeouts and walked only one batter on 70 pitches.
Torina said Selman did a good job of bouncing back after a disappointing start Friday, in which she left the game in the third inning after giving up two home runs to Ball State.
The Tigers outscored opponents 57-8 at the Purple and Gold Challenge, and Andrews finished the weekend with a .909 batting average. She collected 10 hits on 11 at-bats, 13 RBI and seven stolen bases on seven attempts.
“A.J. Andrews was just absolutely phenomenal,” Torina said. “One of the best weekends I’ve ever seen from a player. She was unbelievable.”
Andrews said she’s just focusing on getting on base for her teammates and trusting her teammates behind her.
LSU finishes preconference play with Northwestern State on Tuesday night before hosting Arkansas for the opening of its Southeastern Conference schedule.
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.