The No. 5 LSU softball team earned its 11th win by mercy rule with an 11-0 clobbering of Northwestern State in five innings Tuesday night, extending its record start to 22-0. 
The Tigers’ dynamic combination of power and speed lit up the scoreboard, recording double-digit runs in the first inning for the second time this season. Not to be outshined, sophomore pitcher Baylee Corbello notched her first career no-hitter.  
“[Corbello] did a great job,” said LSU coach Beth Torina. “She made really good pitches. She was sharp from inning one. Her changeup was really good tonight. She had a really good day, and we’re proud of her.” 
After Corbello struck out the Lady Demons’ leadoff hitter and produced two grounds outs in the top of the first inning, LSU’s bats came on fire and all but ended the game in the bottom of the frame.
Senior center fielder A.J. Andrews got the Tigers started by knocking a single through the right side and stealing second to get into scoring position. Sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry drove in Andrews with a bunt
single for LSU’s first run. 
After junior shortstop Bianka Bell doubled and sophomore third baseman Sahvanna Jaquish walked, junior catcher Kellsi Kloss reached on a fielder’s choice, driving in Landry. Jaquish kept the inning alive by sliding into the second baseman to break up the double play.
An RBI single by junior first baseman Sandra Simmons and walk-in run allowed by Northwestern State’s sophomore pitcher Shelby Sells extended LSU’s lead to 4-0. Sells allowed another run by hitting Andrews with the bases loaded. 
Landry broke open the game with a double to left center, clearing the bases and extending the Tigers’ lead to 8-0. Jaquish capped off the Tigers’ scoring in the frame with a double to left center, scoring Landry and Bell. 
“It’s very contagious,” Torina said. “Once somebody starts hitting, it gives the next hitter confidence, so they can do it as well. We’ve shown to have a really potent offense, and they’re a tough out No. 1 through No. 9 … Once they get the ball rolling, they’re tough to stop.”  
Although home runs typically spark the Tigers’ big innings, LSU’s speed and pinpoint position hitting shined against the Lady Demons. 
Landry led LSU’s lineup with a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate, tallying three RBIs and adding two runs. Seven different Tigers notched an RBI, including freshman left fielder Emily Griggs, who drove in LSU’s final run in the second with single to right. 
The Tigers’ ability to consistently score more than five runs in an inning helps took the pressure off Corbello to be perfect. 
Corbello was definition of efficient, notching eight strikeouts and facing only 16 batters in five innings pitched. From her first pitch to her last, Corbello was dominant and was only one batter away from posting a perfect game.  
“Honestly, I don’t really think about no-hitter or no walks throughout the game,” Corbello said. “I just try to think about do what I’ve been doing in practice — stop trying to do too much and stop over adjusting and to just adjust by inches.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.